Hockey betting strategy Total under.
This ice hockey betting strategy also applies to live events and more suitable for KHL matches (Continental Hockey League). The fact that bookmakers offer main pucks total on 4.5 precisely to KHL games.
The main total is the total value at which the odds on undeover is approximately equal. If for NHL this value is usually equal to 5.5, then for KHL 4.5 is typical.
Under the terms of this strategy, we need to track the first 3-8 minutes of a selected meeting and wait for a quick puck from one of the rivals. As soon as such a puck is scored – the odd on TU 4.5 would rise to 2.2-2.5. Accordingly, we just need to bet on such an attractive offer.
The effectiveness of this hockey betting strategy is explained by the fact that a quick puck in hockey is not a guarantee that the match will include a lot of goals scored. Most likely, the team that missed a puck won’t run immediately to recoup, realizing that the whole game is still ahead.
Today I have seen a website in google search when i was searching for ice hockey predictions. I was shocked that they provide many secure predictions.

It seems that we are not far away from closing the books on who won the Domi-Galchenyuk trade now that Domi had his breakout season and led the scoring in Montreal with his best year to date while Galchenyuk became the bag of pucks traded to PIT on a Phil Kessel cap dump (PIT has 2nd lowest cap space in the league). But was this forseeable? Did ARZ really get fleeced by Bergevin?
A lot of people were stoked about getting Domi. The Bergevin-haters tried to get ahead of the spin and pointed to his empty net goals to denigrate his value. I actually thought Domi was overhyped because of the Toronto connection. Turns out all this was unfair and that the story is more complicated. I should have checked the stats before being so dismissive.
Domi's offensive struggles with ARI were well known, and his breakout 70pt season this year with MTL is also well known (see his scoring numbers here). The two big questions that stand for me: a) How much of Domi's troubles in ARZ were caused by playing on a bad team (bad coaching, bad teammates) and was an improvement foreseeable with MTL (better coaching, better teammates). more offensive style? b) Do Domi's numbers this season represent a breakout year and a new norm, or a career year?
To answer this, we check his relative contribution to team goals by looking at the difference between goals scored by his team when he's on the ice and when he's off the ice per 60 minutes (GF60rel). These are shown for goals for (GF), goals against (GA), and percentage differential (GF60-GA60/GF60*100) to balance offensive and defensive contributions. Shot attempt stats (Corsi, if you prefer jargon) (CF60,CF60%) are posted to verify results for robustness (i.e to see if results hold up across various metrics).
​

	year	GF60rel	GA60rel	GF%60rel	CF%60rel	CF60
Domi	2016-17	0.87 (1,43)	0.29 (12,514)	7.2 (5,89)	1.41 (5,196)	51.5 (11,418)
	2017-18	0.82 (1,66)	0.56 (17,523)	3.6 (8,197)	-0.17 (8,308)	58.5 (3,248)
	2018-19	1.00 (2,45)	-0.25 (6,197)	10.7 (3,38)	-4.08 (16,514 )	63.1 (12,77)
Galchenyuk	2016-17	0.69 (2,65)	1.21 (16,548)	-6.4(15,442)	-2.44 (12,430)	59.3 (10,124)
	2017-18	-0.53 (17,462)	0.07 (10,321)	-7.9 (18,488)	-2.22 (13,438)	59.8 (11,191)
	2018-19	-0.43 (18,429)	0.43 (16,460)	-9.7 (19,518)	-0.82 (13,347)	53.9 (13,387)

Relative stats (team on-ice minus team off-ice) for players > 500 min/season 5v5; Ranks in brackets for (team, league).
Max Domi

• The results clearly show that Domi was held back offensively by playing on a bad team. His GF60rel has actually been consistently around 0.90, tops for his teams (only Shaw did better this year) and among the top tier (around 50th) in the league (this year, he was between Nikita Kucherov and Roman Josi). His teammates just score more goals when he's on the ice than when he isn't. It's clear that he has consistently be doing something right to make his teammates better players.
• His strong offensive drive more than compensated for his bad defensive numbers with Arizona (GA60rel, positive is bad because more on-ice goals against) . Make no mistake, these numbers were bad; he was worst on the team and ranked 523/579 in league his last season in Arizona. However he maintained a net positive contribution in goals to his team (GF%60) when on the ice. He was a still net asset because he was pure mint on offense.
• His shot attemp totals (CF60) are consistently ranked below his GF60rel (11th, 3rd, 12th vs. 1st, 1st, 2nd). Conventional wisdom would hold that this would predict an eventual decrease in on-ice goal production, but it hasn't happened in 3 years. One explanation is that Domi generates higher quality opportunities when he's on the ice.
• His CF%60rel shows a huge drop from 8th on ARZ to 16th in MTL while his actual CF60 shoots up to 63.1 from 58.5. This is a reflection of Montreal as a whole generating a huge number of shot attempts. So while Domi doesn't generate as many shots as his teammates in Montreal, it appears that the quality of his shots are better. Hence moving to a team that puts offense at a premium and generates more shots appears to have opened up more opportunities for Domi. Playing with more offensive linemates and a more offensive style has enabled him to generate more quality scoring opportunities and to score more. Hence his increase in scoring, according to these metrics, should have been predicted. Bergevin did his homework.

Alex Galchenyuk

• The results clearly show that Alex Galchenyuk was a much worse bet than Domi. His 0.69 GF60rel was actually good in 2016-17 (second best on team), but not as good as Domi's. The bottom dropped out of his 5on5 offense in his last year in Montreal, becoming the worst on the team, with the same result in Arizona this year.
• Even in a good year offensively 2017-18, Galchenyuk's lousy defense made him a drag on the team, and left him with aGF%60rel=-6.4, 15th on the team in his controbution to team scoring. He was even worse in this regard the last two years as the bottom fell out on his offensive contribution.
• It's pretty clear that ARZ did not do their homework on Galchenyuk, and really should have known better. To be fair, perhaps they thought ahead and knew that his attractive "show-me" contract made him easy to move on a cap dump (which turned out to be the case). It was pretty clear to me though that Galchenyuk was a KHL-level player: I was happy to get something for him that was more than a 2nd round draft pick. For Galchenyuk, it's really a last chance at an NHL shot playing with Crosby/Malkin. If he can't score 30 goals now, there's no more excuses, and he is done in the NHL.

Hello fellow Avs fans I am going to try this again this year. Here is a link to last years write ups for some to gather what I am doing. Once again I am no pro scout/journalist, just doing this for fun, and people seemed to enjoy it last year. I am going to start a bit earlier this year cause I ran out of time last year and my new job has less free time. I think I did a bit more pre scouting this year, but once again if you want more details and guys who watched entire junior seasons I suggest subscribing to one of the many great resources out there. Here was my write up on our #16 pick last year Martin Kaut.
This first one is going to be my only write up and extrapolation with our 4th overall pick and a quick overview and outreach to see if there are any players this sub wants to make sure I cover. I don’t really want to do a full write up for these guys they will be covered to death, as all top 10 picks are. I generally want to cover the lesser players as much as possible, and guys you don’t really know anything about. So first I will list guys I want to cover, but very open to add players Avs fans want to hear about. Then i will do my quick write up on the #4 pick and who I like.
Round 1 Potential picks Picks 4 (From Ottawa), 16 or 28-31:
For #4: Vasili Podkolzin, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens and Alex Turcotte.
For 16 and on: Alex Newhook, Pavel Dorofeyev, Raphael Lavoie, Cam York, Trevor Zegras, Mikko Kokkonen, Bobby Brink, Thomas Harley, Arhur Kaliyev, Cole Caufield, Philip Tomasino, Moritz Seider
2nd and 3rd round potential Pick 47 or 59-62, 63 (From Ottawa), 78 or 90 - 93: Ilya Nikolayev, Nolan Foote, Maxim Cajkovic, Shane Pinto, Nikita Alexandrov, Daniil Misyul, Michal Teply, Matvei Guskov,
Potential 4 round plus Picks 109 or 121 - 124, 140 or 152 - 155, 171 or 183 - 186, 202 or 214 - 217:
List to come, after last year’s draft I feel like these rounds is just silly to predict and the Avs seem to have eyes everywhere, three of their picks last year were basically on no ones list, but seem like they could be ok picks.
I also built my list a bit off of what the Avs need, in my opinion, Top of my list is right handed forwards, two types scorers and net front presence, next is lefty Dmen, who are a bit more defensive. Once again I will make the disclaimer I am not really capable of evaluating Goalies so I leave that to others and don’t interfere. Will note Spencer Knight looks legit, apparently a few Russian Goalies are also showing some promise.
Alright so on to the #4 pick, quick summary.
Vasili Podkolzin: A 6’1” left shot right wing from Russia, born on June 24th he is on the younger side for this draft. He has generally been viewed as a consensus top 5 for most of the season. He has brilliant shot and great hands, but lacks some footspeed. I think a good comparable player could be TJ Oshie of the Capitals. My bet is the Hawks take him, but if not he would certainly be a welcome addition to the Avs. He is an very intelligent player that is not selfish with the puck and when he feels too much pressure is great at getting the puck back to his points, making very mature passing plays. He is a true competitor and doesn’t give up on pucks near him, and will hustle hard to win loose pucks. Two notable issues though, first he had fairly poor stats this year in Russia even playing in their junior league, and only played 29 games outside of international tournaments with 8-5-13 with no points in his 3 KHL appearances. At the same time he is still deemed a star player by the Russian Junior program and got ice time at the WJC as a 17 year old which is rare for team Russia, so going off league stats may not tell the whole story. Second his current U-18s as captain of Russia he does not look good. So he could be a very streaky player which is not something you want to see out of a top prospect, as usually top picks are relatively consistent as juniors. Regardless don’t be disappointed if we pick him as his shooting mentality, with his elite shot and high hockey IQ will be invaluable assets to our team, and his willingness to fight in puck battles is a great attribute. Because of his contract situation he likely would not come over until the 2020-2021 season, but that is ok as he has been shown favour on Russian teams so he will likely get his chance with his KHL team, and two more shots at the WJCs. He is a mid floor high potential player, who could become a great scorer with ability to put up 40 goals. Ideal player comparison could be Vladimir Tarasenko. Highlights
Bowen Byram: 6’ left shot defender from Canada born in June he is also on the younger side. He has been called the best defenseman in the draft for the whole season and nothing has really made anyone doubt that. He is a heads up player that thrives with the puck on his stick, shows good vision as well. He is a workhorse player that has potential to eat minutes in the NHL. He is not explosive or especially elusive like Girard or Makar, but is a solid smooth skater, with some ability to dangle. He has a solid shot not quite elite, but is a capable powerplay QB, especially with his passing ability. His passing ability also makes him excellent at breakouts and clean first passes. He is a solid defender, takes away passing lanes well and doesn’t give many opportunities to go inside. He is an excellent two way defender, and could be a level above EJ and great match with Makar. This season for him was incredible with 26-45-71 in 67 games for the Vancouver Giants, and is a leading scorer in the WHL playoffs. To critique him a bit, he is not an especially physical player, and doesn’t try to lay hits. The only question this brings is how well he could battle in front of the net at higher levels. If he were to become a true top defenseman we would need to know we could trust him on the PK as well. The other note is he seems to lack true game breaking talent, but will provide consistent play which would allow him to be a calming presence. With the game breakers we already have his consistency might be a nice addition. Of note he is extremely young and because he is a CHL player it's NHL or bust for the next two seasons so he would probably debut for the Eagles in 2021, unless he really explodes as a player, but we have a tough defense to crack right now. The only real major knock I have heard on Byram is he is highly ranked because of how poor the defensive class is this year, He may only be the 6th or 7th best player of the draft, but is bumped because no other defensemen seems to be considered a top 10 talent with potential to be a #1 dman. Not saying teams who need d won’t take another dman in the top 10, but best player available is likely a forward. Ideal projection is a two-way #1 defenseman a la Drew Doughty. Highlights
Dylan Cozens: 6’ 3” Right Shot center from the Yukon, is a middle aged pick born February 9th 2001. In a two way race for top Canadian Center in this draft. I prefer him over Dach purely for how he fits with the Avs. He is all about skating and shooting, he has great speed and with his size he can really make it hard for defenders to hold him off. He can just seemingly score at will in the WHL and while it may not completely translate to the NHL this kid could be 40 goal scorer. He has a shoot first attitude and will score from all areas of the ice. His passing is still good and but I think he could work on looking for his passes a bit more, he misses teammates tape a bit too much, but is great at getting pucks through defenders when crashing the net. Cozens also shows a solid two-way game often on his teams first PK unit, and knows how to act in his own zone. This season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes Cozens went 34-50-84 in 68 games, which is an great season and cemented himself as a top pick in this draft. He has potential to be a great power forward and if he grows into his frame he will be tough to move from in front of the net. I think putting him in the slot will also be deadly on the powerplay. I think Wayne Simmonds could be a solid comparison. One area he would need to improve to be that power forward would be some physicality he doesn’t hit often. He is also a great competitor and can be a game breaker, fighting hard for loose pucks and winning battles in front of the net. This also presents us with second right handed center behind Mackinnon and a guy who can add to our PK replacing Soderberg. He will likely play one more year in the WHL before being ready to play for the Avs, in the 2020 season, he has been noted as potentially the most NHL ready player outside of the top 2 picks so we could rush him if we wanted. I have heard some put his ideal projection as another Jonathan Toews, but I feel like that might be overstating his defensive ability a bit. Highlights
Alex Turcotte: 5’ 11” left shot center from Illinois, with a February birthday is the son of former NHLer mostly AHLer Alfie Turcotte. This kid has been the #2 center his entire career with Jack Hughes being the guy in front of him, but he still manages to stand out. Turcotte is an excellent and smooth skater who stands out for his passing and defensive game. He was injured for part of this year, but since coming back he has been on fire and rising in the rankings. He had 26-35-61 in 34 games for the USDP and 12-22-34 in 16 games in the USHL. He is also about a point per game in international play. His surge since his injury has made him likely the highest riser in the most recent months before the draft. He has a pro level shot in addition to his amazing vision and extremely high hockey IQ. His defensive play is also extremely good and will be a possible selke candidate in the NHL. His balance is great and he protects the puck well while being pressured by defenders. He also has good hand-eye coordination very capable of tipping pucks in front of the net. He fills a need of a two way player for the Avs and guy willing to play all over the ice with constant great effort. The few times he has been called upon to be a #1 center for USA he has always excelled and will get a taste of NCAA hockey next year playing for Wisconsin. Comparable I have heard Patrice Bergeron mentioned as a player with elite skill that will be more noticed for his defensive capability. The only big worries for Turcotte is the injury history and the lack of exposure to physical hockey, but he will get time to develop physically at Wisconsin. He will likely take two years at Wisconsin so expect him in the NHL 2021. Highlights
So this was my summary of players I liked for our #4 pick. Personally Cozens and Podkolzen are my favourites for the Avs, but I would not be disappointed by any of them. Let me know what you think, and I will have my next write up this weekend or next week.

Get yourself ready for a huge post, degens.
Today the KHL (Russian hockey league) play-offs are starting. So I have decided to start sharing my picks since the last season was a huge success for me. Some might think that KHL is boring and slow, and I totally agree with that. There is truly little entertainment in watching every single match during the regular season. Personally, I like NHL matches more, even though I have to ruin my schedule to watch them since I live in Russia. In general, PO matches are different from regular matches - same applies to KHL. What’s more important - they are hell of a lot more predictable. I guess, everyone here will be glad to take a gulp of fresh air after NHL’s tough stretch (including myself).
I will be posting my picks with write-ups in NHL thread, but here I would like to give some futures and not just to place bets (because, in my opinion, futures are not that good for making money), but also to introduce you to the teams and the overall situation there.

Eastern Conference

1. Yekaterinburg (1st) – Tractor Chelyabinsk (8th) Pick – 4:0 final score of the series Odds – 3.55
Tractor is a huge mess, the team has been failing during the regular season and has made it to PO by a miracle. At times it would seem that they did everything in their power to lose their spot in the upper chart, but somehow still held it. Yekaterinburg, though, is one of the best teams in the league. Prior to the start of the season they were sponsored by a generous investor and now Yekaterinburg’s budget is simply huge compared to most other teams'. Yekaterinburg made some good transfers and all the new players have achieved the perfect chemistry. in the beginning of the season the team won 20 matches in a row and showed that their goal of reaching the Stanley Cup final is totally feasible. I do expect Yekaterinburg to go 4-0 against Tractor mercilessly.
2. Barys Astana (2nd) – Nizhniy Novgorod (7th) Pick – Barys to win series with (-1.5) match handicap Odds – 1.95
NN is that kind of team that makes it to PO purely because of its fervor. I don’t think they can stand a chance against Barys and 4:0 here is very likely. But bookies are giving us exciting odds for Barys (-1.5) in this series and this is exactly the kind of a future you would want to make. Barys is really strong in this season and I don’t see how NN can steal more than 2 games against them.
3. Metallurg Magnitogorsk (3rd) – Salavat Ufa (6th)
This one is really close. I wouldn't be too sure about any pick here. Total Over, though, isn't looking that bad, but the odds are questionable. Well, Over 6 is looking fine, 7 games are totally possible there.
4. Avangard Omsk (4th) – Bars Kazan (5th) Pick – Bars Kazan to qualify Odds – 1.9
Avangard entered the season as a completely new team. Their new coach Bob Hartley and new players (even from NHL) did their job well. But then something strange happened - the team started playing in an overly aggressive manner (their shots on goal count is exceedingly high), but to no avail. There is, of course, a chance that Hartley is in fact a godlike strategist and his team worsened performance on purpose - perhaps to spare stamina or to lull their opponents into false sense of safety (if someone is familiar with the methods he used in NHL, please do share in comments) - but tbh I don't see Avangard beating the current champion anytime soon. Kazan is a skillful and disciplined team, their playstyle is just perfect for PO games. After all, Kazan had won the Cup three times and this is the best result in KHL history. Their coach remains the same and his playstyle hasn't changed.

Western Conference

1. CSKA (1st) – Podolsk (8th)
This one is very simple, the main favorite of this season against the team that could easily lost their PO slot. I think Podolsk is no match to CSKA and I don’t think CSKA wants to play more games than necessary. Still, I don’t like a 4:0 final score for 2.00 odds, it’s just ridiculous and not worth it in my opinion. Still, this is probably the best pick for this series.
2. SKA St. Petersburg (2nd) – Sp. Moscow (7th)
This series is very hard to predict. SKA has some problems with their game, but it could be a result of their decision not to waste too much energy before PO. Regardless, Moscow now is in healthy shape and can put up a good fight here. Moreover, odds are really bad for a good pick. Skip for sure.
3. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (3rd) – Sochi (6th)
Sochi is definitely a problematic matchup for Lokomotiv, Loko players admitted that many times during the season. The line is bad, I don’t see many compelling picks for this series, but (-2.5) games handicap at 2.08 odds does seem worth the shot. I really don’t see Sochi winning more than 1 game. Still, I suggest skipping this.
4. Jokerit (4th) – Dyn. Moscow (6th)
This is a tough series, as much as I like Jokerit I also am afraid of Dynamo. This team is ridiculous, I mean, there are just two players that are hard carrying Moscow – Dmitri Kagarlitsky and Vadim Shipachyov, these two guys are all there is to the team. At the start of the season this team had been losing a lot, and even after swapping their coach for a new one (Krikunov) their game remained subpar for a while. But in the end, Dynamo (i.e. Kagarlitsky and Shipachyov) started stomping. Jokerit is also good, I could tell you a lot about this team, but I see no point in doing it now. This series should in general be skipped, but I personally will make a really small bet on Jokerit to qualify (Odds – 1.77).
Well, that’s it for now. I don’t really want to bet on any of the 1st day matches, but on the 2nd we are definitely in. I will try to post my picks every day around 4 pm EST and the 1st one will be soon. This post is, say, a kind of greetings to you from me. BOL to everyone!

As the Canucks have fallen out of playoff contention, many fans including myself now turn their attention to the draft and what an interesting draft it is. This draft is supposedly lacking the glitz and glamour of a truly elite prospect. There might not be a McDavid or Matthews or Eichel, or Laine, but to me what makes this draft so interesting is the fact that, similar to the 2012 draft, scouts can’t seem to come to an agreement on the order for which players will go. Outside of the top 2, various scouts and scouting websites have players ranked higher or lower than other sites in their mock drafts. Why this is so intriguing is the fact that most picks will really be up to individual team’s preferences, meaning that come draft day, we will see all sorts of players falling below expectations as well as players picked above their projected targets. This uncertainty will surely make for an amusing draft, even if their is not the same depth of talent as some other years. On the talent pool, while it might prove to be true that the prospects this year are weaker than in drafts prior, through my research I have still found a ton of exciting young players, all who bring unique skillsets to the table. Now before I delve into the list, I feel as though I must make it clear that I am in no way a scout of any kind, indeed the only times I have seen these players play is in highlight packages made by others. This list is not my own personal opinion, but rather an aggregate of 5 prospect rankings, ranking the players based solely on their averages. The comments made are also mostly based on scouting reports and comments made by scouts from TSN, the NHL, Sportsnet and other agencies.
1) Nolan Patrick (C) WHL Brandon Wheat Kings 6’3 198lbs
ISS: 1 Hockeyprospect.com:1 Future Considerations: 1 McKeen’s Hockey:1 Bob McKenzie:1
Elite Prospects page
The consensus number 1 pick, Nolan Patrick is a strong two-way center with a lot of offensive upside. While many scouts have said he lacks the “wow” factor of the previous two first round picks Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, make no mistake, Patrick would be an excellent addition to any team. Standing at 6’3 198, the son of former 1st round pick Steve Patrick certainly has the size to be an effective NHL player and good speed and excellent hockey IQ to boot. The Winnipeg native has been compared to youngsters Sam Reinhart and Leon Draisaitl as well as fellow Manitoban Jonathan Toews. The comparable players give a display about the type of player that Patrick might become,a dependable center who won’t wow with flashy moves but will be a steadily offensive force. It’s important to note that Patrick was sidelined for considerable time this season due to both a sports hernia and a lower body injury. This resulted in him missed playing for Canada at the World Juniors which I’m sure was disappointing both to him and to fans of lottery teams as it would have been nice for him to showcase his abilities. Patrick is one of the older players in the draft, his September 14th birthday left him just 4 days ineligible for last years draft, much like Auston Matthews who also just missed the draft cut-off. Ultimately while Patrick may lack the glamour of a McDavid or a Matthews, he should prove to be a valuable piece going forward and the Canucks would be extremely lucky to have him. While he his ceiling has been considered that of an elite 2nd line center which is rather disappointing, projected ceilings aren’t always right, as I’m sure a certain “3rd line center” can attest.
Videos:
Wheat Kings Highlights
2015-16 Highlights
2) Nico Hischier (C) QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads 6’0 174lbs
ISS: 2 Hockeyprospect.com: 2 Future Considerations: 4 McKeen’s Hockey: 2 Bob McKenzie: 2
Elite Prospects page
Coming in at number two is Swiss born Nico Hischier, who is seen as the more offensively gifted of the top two picks. Hischier turned a lot of heads this year, putting on a quite the show this year for team Switzerland in the World Juniors. Before the tournament early on in the season Hischier was ranked by most scouting aggregates outside of the top 10 but his impressive play both at the international level as well as on a very young Mooseheads team has lead him to jump up the draft rankings very quickly, much like Patrick Laine did last draft. The 18 year old has phenomenal offensive abilities, possessing a pair of silky mitts, and impressive speed which has lead some at the Hockey News to dub him the “Swiss McDavid”. While this may be a bit of an overreaction, that is some serious high praise for the young Hischier. If Hischier does indeed get drafted in the top two he will become the highest drafted Swiss player in history and just the 6th Swiss player drafted in the first round joining the likes of Nino Niederreiter (5th overall 2010), Kevin Fiala (11th overall 2014), Mirco Mueller (18th overall 2013), Timo Meier (9th overall 2015) and current Canucks Sven Baertschi (13th overall 2011) and Luca Sbisa (19th overall 2008). Early on the season there were questions about Hischier’s compete level, especially after a rather poor showing at the Ivan Hlinka memorial tournament, but I think it is safe to say those concerns are squashed as Hischier has more or less carried the Mooseheads and was arguably tournament MVP at the WJC. While Patrick may have a more complete NHL frame, Hischier’s offensive toolkit has many teams excited at the prospect of the flashy forward wearing their colours. Do not be surprised if Nico’s name ends up being the one called first at the podium on Draft Day.
Videos:
2016-17 Highlights
2015-16 Highlights
WJC Highlights
3) Casey Mittelstadt (C/LW) USHL Green Bay Gamblers 6’1 201lbs
ISS: 6 Hockeyprospects.com: 3 Future Considerations: 3 McKeen: 4 Bob Mckenzie: 5
Elite Prospects page
This is where things get complicated, after Patrick and Hischier there is some debate among scouts about who the next few picks are. I took the averages from 5 different scouting bases and the player with the next highest average is Casey Mittelstadt. Mittelstadt is a very complete player with a strong north-south game, excellent speed, and very good hockey IQ. According to scouts the Minnesota native is a dynamic and creative player who has the ability to find space and create plays for both himself and his teammates. Mittelstadt is committed to the University of Minnesota for next season which means like all NCAA players he won’t be allowed to sign with the team that drafts him until he decides to leave the program. Mittelstadt is a very creative forward who is capable at both center and wing, and should be a very promising prospect for any team.
Videos:
U-18 Highlights
2017 Highlights
4) Gabriel Vilardi (C) OHL Windsor Spitfires 6’2 192lbs
ISS:4 Hockeyprospect.com: 5 Future Considerations: 5 McKeen’s: 5 Bob McKenzie: 4
Elite Prospects page
Vilardi has had a breakout season this year taking the OHL by storm. The Kingston native has a very high-end skill set with a good frame and excellent finishing ability. According to Craig Button Vilardi has all the tools to become an offensive minded number 1 center in this league. Vilardi missed some time at the start of this season due to a knee injury. Vilardi was drafted 2nd overall in the OHL priority draft in 2015. One knock on his game is his skating and while he certainly isn’t a bad skater, a lot of scouts say he lacks the speed of some of the other top prospects. The good news for Vilardi is that he has natural hockey IQ and unlike skating, you can’t develop that. This draft appears to be stock full of offensive centers and Vilardi is certainly one of them.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
2016-17 Highlights
5) Timothy Liljegren (D) SHL Rogle BK 6’0 192lbs
ISS:5 Hockeyprospects.com: 7 Future Considerations: 2 McKeen’s: 8 Bob McKenzie: 3
Elite Prospects page
The first defenceman on this list, Liljegren is an interesting case. He was pegged by many going into this draft as a #2 overall pick or even possibly someone who could challenge Nolan Patrick for the number 1 position but due to some bad luck has found himself falling down the rankings a bit. This is not to say that he couldn’t possibly go higher because with this draft anyone could go anywhere it's just that due to illness and injury he hasn’t really gotten the chance to play much this season. Much like Nolan Patrick Liljegren missed the World Juniors due to him getting mono which is unfortunate for any top prospect because it is the first place to really showcase your talents to a large audience of fans and scouts. The Swedish born defender is an offensive defenceman who can run the powerplay. Scouts have said that Liljegren is a fantastic puck mover and an elite skater. He is by far considered to be the best defenceman available with many scouts comparing his game to fellow Swede Erik Karlsson. Lijegren has all the makings of an elite offensive defenceman, and while he has been criticised from time to time for being a little weak in his own zone, if he can truly anchor a powerplay at the NHL level he will be a very sought after commodity indeed.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
6) Owen Tippett (RW) OHL Mississauga Steelheads 6’2 203lbs
ISS: 3 Hockeyprospect.com: 12 Future Considerations: 6 McKeen’s: 6 Bob McKenzie: 6
Elite Prospects page
The first forward who isn’t a center on this list, Owen Tippett might be the purest sniper in this draft. Tippett has a nasty wrist shot and loves to shoot first and ask questions later. While possessing quite possibly the best shot out of this crop of talent, TIppett like many others in this draft also has great speed and a big physical frame. While Tippett does posses tremendous offensive upside scouts have voiced concerns about his game being a little one-dimensional, meaning that when he isn’t scoring he might not be as effective at other elements of the game as other players. Owen is of no relation to current Arizona Coyotes coach Dave Tippett but he is first cousins with Tampa Bay’s second round pick Mitchell Stephens who played for Canada at the World Juniors this season and currently plays with Olli Juolevi in London. Tippett is definitely a player to watch this coming June.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
2016-17 Highlights
7) Elias Pettersson (C/LW) Allsvenskan Timrå IK 6’2 161lbs
ISS: 15 Hockeyprospects.com: 4 Future Considerations: 8 McKeen’s: 7 Bob McKenzie: 11
Elite Prospects page
We’ve reached our first European forward! Pettersson is a crafty two-way forward who has been described as a “jack of all trades” type player. He currently plays alongside recently acquired Canuck Jonathan Dahlin on Timra, where he has averaged nearly a point per game in Sweden’s second tier league. Scouts like the way he distributes the puck as well as his defensive game and intellect. As the lightest player on this list so far, it is apparent that he needs to continue to bulk up and fill out his frame. Pettersson is seen as a very complete player who is improving with every passing game. Out of all of the players listed thus far, Pettersson is probably the riskiest pick as he is still very much a work in progress but if he can continue to improve his skating and fill out his frame the sky's the limit for this young forward.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
2016-17 Highlights
8) Eeli Tolvanen (LW) USHL Sioux City Musketeers 5’10 179lbs
ISS:11 Hockeyprospect.com: 14 Future Considerations: 7 McKeen’s: 9 Bob McKenzie 9
Elite Prospects page
Tolvanen is a player who loves to score. The young Finn has proven his scoring ability at every level and has wowed scouts, many who consider him to be the best pure sniper of the draft. According to Bob McKenzie he has an NHL shot and an NHL release. Tolvanen is a dynamic scorer who has multiple tools in his toolbox to score goals. He is on the smaller side but reports say he is quite strong. Tolvanen was drafted to the Oshawa Generals in the import draft but has committed to Boston University next season. Tolvanen played for the Finnish World Junior team this season where he scored 6 points in 6 games, which is very impressive considering Finland disastrous tournament. Tolvanen is one of the most exciting prospects in this draft.
Videos:
2016-17 Highlights
2016 U-18 Highlights
Partial 2016-17 Highlights
9) Michael Rasmussen (C) WHL Tri-City Americans 6’5 201lbs
ISS: 7 Hockeyprospect.com: 15 Future Considerations: 20 McKeen’s: 3 Bob McKenzie: 7
Elite Prospects page
Surrey native Michael Rasmussen is a massive center. Standing at 6’5 he is the archetype of the new hulking centers that have been drafted recently in the same vein as Logan Brown and Nick Bjugstad. According to scouts Rasmussen is a reliable two-way center with very impressive hands and speed, especially for his large size. Rasmussen is a very complete player who can play at all three ends of the ice. According to TSN’s head of scouting Craig Button Rasmussen doesn’t use his big frame to his advantage too much physically, which is kind of a let down since you would think it would be his greatest asset, but that skill can still be learned. Rasmussen is perhaps the most intriguing prospect of the draft due to his large size, as it is difficult to see where his ceiling is. In the increasingly quick NHL it will be interesting to see if his speed will be able to keep up.
Videos:
2016-17 Highlights
Sept. 2016 4 goal game
10) Cale Makar (D) AJHL Brooks Bandits 5’11 179lbs
ISS: 13 Hockeyprospect.com: 8 Future Considerations: 18 McKeen’s: 12 Bob McKenzie: 12
Elite Prospects page
Our second defenceman on this list, Makar is putting up fantastic numbers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) which is a Junior A club. Makar has turned heads quite a bit throughout this season and has seen his stock rise considerably since most pre-season draft rankings had him going near the end or outside of the 1st round. Makar has been described as a smooth skating offensive defenceman with great foot speed and puck handling abilities. A competent defender at both ends of the ice, Makar is a tad on the shortish side for a typical defender but that really should not be too big of an issue, especially since he hasn’t shown to be afraid to take the body while playing. Makar has been lauded for his hockey sense and ability to make the very critical first pass to set up plays. Similar to Avalanche prospect Tyson Jost who played in the BCHL before going to college, Makar has committed to taking his talents to the University of Massachusetts Amherst for next season. The Calgary native’s draft stock was lower than it could have been initially in large part because many scouts were a bit apprehensive because Makar plays in the AJHL which is a league that has not had a lot of recognition in recent years. Ultimately Makar is a very well-rounded prospect and it will be interesting to see what the young man can do at the collegiate level.
Videos:
2016-17 Highlights
5 point game in Junior A Challenge Tournament
11) Martin Necas (C) Czech HC Kometa Brno 6 ft 168
ISS: 17 Hockeyprospect.com: 6 Future Considerations: 23 McKeen’s: 10 Bob McKenzie: 8
Elite Prospects page
Another center in the seemingly endless pool of centermen that is the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Necas is an agile forward with an offensive skillset. Described as a pass-first playmaker, Necas is great with the puck, with scouts praising his ability to stickhandle and carry the puck up the ice. The Czech native played for his home country this year at the World Junior Championships where he registered 3 points in 5 games. Looking at Necas’ point totals by themselves do not look very impressive at all but it is important to remember that he plays in the Czech league which is an adult league and most teenagers do not register many points in this league. Necas does have a smallish frame and some scouts have voiced concerns about his tendency to overplay the puck from time to time and his game has been called a bit predictable, but Necas is certainly a potentially very high valued prospect.
Videos:
2016-17 Highlights
12) Miro Heiskanen (D) Liiga HIFK 6 ft 174lbs
ISS: Unrated Hockeyprospect.com: 9 Future Considerations: 11 McKeen’s: 11 Bob McKenzie 13
Elite Prospects page
Just the third European league player in the top 15 so far, Miro Heiskanen is a highly intelligent defender with excellent puck movement and distribution. Scouts have praised Heiskanen for his elite skating ability and like his positioning as well. The young Finn played for team Finland in this year’s World Juniors where he scored 1 point in 5 games, and also like a lot of European leagues, he is playing with grown men, so his point totals are much lower than they most likely would be if he were playing in a junior league. Heiskanen is again a little on the smaller side and scouts have noted that he does not possess much of a physical style of game. Heiskanen has really flown under the radar by a lot of media outlets, which could be in part due to his playing in the Finnish league. Out of the three defenceman listed thus far, Heiskanen is the least offensive, and plays a more two-way style of game.
Videos:
Feb. 2017 2 point game
13) Klim Kostin (RW) KHL Dynamo Moskva 6’3 196lbs
ISS: 9 Hockeyprospect.com: 24 Future Considerations: 12 McKeen’s: 22 Bob McKenzie 10
Elite Prospects page
To say that it has been a difficult year for Klim Kostin would be an understatement. After being selected 1st overall in the CHL import draft by the Kootenay Ice, Kostin decided instead to remain in his native Russia and play for Dynamo Moscow. It was here in Moscow where things went downhill, as Kostin has been injured for pretty much the whole season. He bounced from the KHL down to the VHL and then down to the MHL which is the third Russian league, all the while only playing 18 games in the whole season. He is reportedly going for shoulder surgery which will end his season. Despite this disastrous season, Kostin is still a very good prospect. The big bodied winger can use his size as well as his speed to get in on the forecheck and really push the zone. He’s seen a bit more as a playmaker than a sniper, but isn’t afraid to put the puck in the net either. He gives his team versatility as he is a mix of a power forward and a playmaker, and while his play has been called erratic at times he is a very high energy, high impact forward. He has been compared to former Stars prospect Valeri Nichushkin, in the sense that he is a big bodied winger, but hopefully he does not leave his NHL team to return to Russia like Nichushkin did. Kostin surely hopes that the next season can be kinder as I’m sure this season has hurt his draft stock considerably but make no mistake, Kostin is a real promising young talent.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
Nice shoot out goal
14) Nicolas Hague (D) OHL Mississauga Steelheads 6’6 214lbs
ISS: 12 Hockeyprospect.com: 21 Future Considerations: 9 McKeen’s Unrated Bob Mckenzie: 21
Elite Prospects page
Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall Nicholas Hague is one of the tallest players in this draft. The hulking defender has proven to be an efficient player offensively as well as defensively. Playing with fellow top prospect Owen Tippett on the Steelheads, the Kitchener native has been praised for his all around play with scouts praising not only his play in all three ends but also his physicality and abilities on the powerplay. There is concern, like all tall players, about his speed although scouts seem to disagree on this, with some noting his foot speed as an issue while others claiming it to be fine for the modern league. Mike Morreale has stated that Hague is more than just your typical big defender, his offensive ability make him a very intriguing prospect for any team looking to add a player who can add some toughness and size to their backend while also getting a player who can contribute offensively.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
15) Cal Foote (D) WHL Kelowna Rockets 6’3 209lbs
ISS: 8 Hockeyprospect.com: 13 Future Considerations: 22 McKeen’s: 23 Bob McKenzie 18
Elite Prospects page
The son of Avalanche great Adam Foote, Cal is following in his father’s footsteps as he is on a path to become an NHL defender. According to scouts he doesn’t quite have the meanness of his father, but does have some more offensive upside than Adam did. Teammates see him as a phenomenal leader with possible captaincy aspirations. Foote is another in quite the collection of defenders who can serve on the powerplay in this draft. The main knock on Callan’s game is his foot speed, with multiple scouts listing it as an area that needs improvement. Foote is another interesting prospect with a great hockey bloodline.
Videos:
2015-16 Highlights
2016-17 Highlights
Other interesting prospects: Cody Glass, Lias Andersson, Kailer Yamamoto, Maxime Comtois
Personal opinions: I think that the best bet for the Canucks would be to take a center, any one of Nolan Patrick, Nico Hischier, Gabe Vilardi, Casey Mittelstadt, or Elias Pettersson would help this team out immensely. And I believe this is Benning’s thought process going into the draft as well based on what he has said in interviews. However if we fall out of a lotto spot and the first four centers (Patrick, Hischier, Vilardi, and Mittelstadt) are taken I think the team should shift its focus to defense. We still need a quarterback for the PP in the future and I believe that Timothy Liljegren and to a lesser extent Cale Makar fit the bill. With Liljegren especially I can’t help but get excited at the prospect of a Juolevi - Liljegren pairing in the future. Regardless of where the lotto balls land us, we should have plenty of opportunity to select a young, promising young player. Hopefully Jim Benning and the rest of the scouting staff can continue to build on what has seemed to be a series of good drafts. If all luck goes the Canucks way they will have 4 picks in the first 2 rounds (Columbus’ 2nd rounder and San Jose’s 1st) which if used correctly will help to accelerate the rebuild significantly.
Also apologizes for the music in a lot of these highlight packs. I wouldn't have had any background music but I didn't make the videos

Get yourself ready for a huge post, degens.
Tomorrow the KHL (Russian hockey league) play-offs are starting. So I have decided to start sharing my picks since the last season was a huge success for me. Some might think that KHL is boring and slow, and I totally agree with that. There is truly little entertainment in watching every single match during the regular season. Personally, I like NHL matches more, even though I have to ruin my schedule to watch them since I live in Russia. In general, PO matches are different from regular matches - same applies to KHL. What’s more important - they are hell of a lot more predictable. I guess, everyone here will be glad to take a gulp of fresh air after NHL’s tough stretch (including myself).
I will be posting my picks with write-ups in NHL thread, but here I would like to give some futures and not just to place bets (because, in my opinion, futures are not that good for making money), but also to introduce you to the teams and the overall situation there.

Eastern Conference

1. Yekaterinburg (1st) – Tractor Chelyabinsk (8th) Pick – 4:0 final score of the series Odds – 3.55
Tractor is a huge mess, the team has been failing during the regular season and has made it to PO by a miracle. At times it would seem that they did everything in their power to lose their spot in the upper chart, but somehow still held it. Yekaterinburg, though, is one of the best teams in the league. Prior to the start of the season they were sponsored by a generous investor and now Yekaterinburg’s budget is simply huge compared to most other teams'. Yekaterinburg made some good transfers and all the new players have achieved the perfect chemistry. in the beginning of the season the team won 20 matches in a row and showed that their goal of reaching the Stanley Cup final is totally feasible. I do expect Yekaterinburg to go 4-0 against Tractor mercilessly.
2. Barys Astana (2nd) – Nizhniy Novgorod (7th) Pick – Barys to win series with (-1.5) match handicap Odds – 1.95
NN is that kind of team that makes it to PO purely because of its fervor. I don’t think they can stand a chance against Barys and 4:0 here is very likely. But bookies are giving us exciting odds for Barys (-1.5) in this series and this is exactly the kind of a future you would want to make. Barys is really strong in this season and I don’t see how NN can steal more than 2 games against them.
​
3. Metallurg Magnitogorsk (3) – Salavat Ufa (6)
This one is really close. I wouldn't be too sure about any pick here. Total Over, though, isn't looking that bad, but the odds are questionable. Well, Over 6 is looking fine, 7 games are totally possible there.
4. Avangard Omsk (4) – Bars Kazan (5) Pick – Bars Kazan to qualify Odds – 1.9
Avangard entered the season as a completely new team. Their new coach Bob Hartley and new players (even from NHL) did their job well. But then something strange happened - the team started playing in an overly aggressive manner (their shots on goal count is exceedingly high), but to no avail. There is, of course, a chance that Hartley is in fact a godlike strategist and his team worsened performance on purpose - perhaps to spare stamina or to lull their opponents into false sense of safety (if someone is familiar with the methods he used in NHL, please do share in comments) - but tbh I don't see Avangard beating the current champion anytime soon. Kazan is a skillful and disciplined team, their playstyle is just perfect for PO games. After all, Kazan had won the Cup three times and this is the best result in KHL history. Their coach remains the same and his playstyle hasn't changed.

Western Conference

1. CSKA (1) – Podolsk (8)
This one is very simple, the main favorite of this season against the team that could easily lost their PO slot. I think Podolsk is no match to CSKA and I don’t think CSKA wants to play more games than necessary. Still, I don’t like a 4:0 final score for 2.00 odds, it’s just ridiculous and not worth it in my opinion. Still, this is probably the best pick for this series.
2. SKA St. Petersburg (2) – Sp. Moscow (7)
This series is very hard to predict. SKA has some problems with their game, but it could be a result of their decision not to waste too much energy before PO. Regardless, Moscow now is in healthy shape and can put up a good fight here. Moreover, odds are really bad for a good pick. Skip for sure.
3. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl – Sochi
Sochi is definitely a problematic matchup for Lokomotiv, Loko players admitted that many times during the season. The line is bad, I don’t see many compelling picks for this series, but (-2.5) games handicap at 2.08 odds does seem worth the shot. I really don’t see Sochi winning more than 1 game. Still, I suggest skipping this.
4. Jokerit (4) – Dyn. Moscow (6)
This is a tough series, as much as I like Jokerit I also am afraid of Dynamo. This team is ridiculous, I mean, there are just two players that are hard carrying Moscow – Dmitri Kagarlitsky and Vadim Shipachyov, these two guys are all there is to the team. At the start of the season this team had been losing a lot, and even after swapping their coach for a new one (Krikunov) their game remained subpar for a while. But in the end, Dynamo (i.e. Kagarlitsky and Shipachyov) started stomping. Jokerit is also good, I could tell you a lot about this team, but I see no point in doing it now. This series should in general be skipped, but I personally will make a really small bet on Jokerit to qualify (Odds – 1.77).
​
Well, that’s it for now. I don’t really want to bet on any of the 1st day matches, but on the 2nd we are definitely in. I will try to post my picks every day around 4 pm EST and the 1st one will be soon. This post is, say, a kind of greetings to you from me. BOL to everyone!

• Are the Isles in on Kucherov?: I bet they would be. I don't think he's available. Tampa has vets to unload (Filppula/Boyle/Bishop).
  
• Is Strome gone?: I do not. Like Nelson and Bailey in past years, RFAs w/o arb rights make deals at the last second. It'll get done
  
• On the three headed goalie situation: I think they will trade one of the goalies, but not until Sept/Oct.
  
• On JTs extension: No idea. I'd lean yes, based on what he's said and what the org wants, but next summer is a long way off.
  
• Will Grabbo have a spot come opening night?: Sure, but that's a big if. I've heard conflicting reports on whether he'll be ready for the season.
  
• Will we trade for a top 6 forward?: Wouldn't think so.
  
• Who gets traded to prevent losing them in the expansion draft?: Possibly Nelson, possibly deHaan
  
• Which rookie has the best chance of sticking with the Isles?: Still think it's Barzal.
  
• Is Barzal in the opening night lineup?: Yes. Just a hunch.
  
• Did the Isles get better?: Possibly. And also room for young forwards on the roster to get bigger roles.
  
• Do any teams actually need Halak?: If Halak is the one traded, he'd go somewhere to be a backup or 1A. Don't think anyone's handing him a starting gig.
  
• How sincere is Ledecky with his promises?: He wants the team to win and he's willing to spend. The rest has to play out before we know what he's going to do.
  
• Where do the Isles finish?: 3rd in Metro. That's as far as the crystal ball will go. Do not take this as a fact. Staple predicted the Jackets to win the Metro last year
  
• Did the team find out who leaked Hamonic trade request?: Yep
  
• On Sorokin coming over from the KHL: There's hope, but it's so hard to predict what happens over there.
  
• Does JT have input in the front office?: I do not [think so], no.
  
• Isles lines ATM: Ladd-Tavares-PAP, Lee-Barzal-Strome, Kulemin-Nelson-Bailey, Chimera-Cizikas-Clutterbuck. Prince/Quine. that third line was a tire fire last year. Do not approve of that line. Others look good though
  
• Lineup without Barzal: Ladd-JT-PAP, Lee-Strome-Prince, Kulemin-Nelson-Bailey, Chimera-CC-CC, Quine.
  
• How do you fix the ice problem?: Spending money/taking time to get it right. Not sure that'll happen this summer.
  
• Is Pulock exempt?: He must be protected. That's the final word from the league.
  
• Why is Barzal ahead of Dal Colle?: Assume it's based off last year's camp and the seasons they both had. No one's given up on MDC.
  
• Isles D pairings game one: 2-3, 44-55, 14-6. 42 (Mayfield) the No. 7 and 50 (Pelech) in BPT.
  
• Why is Mayfield ahead of Pelech?: Pelech doesn't need waivers, Mayfield does
  
• Is there talks with Clutterbucks camp yet?: I would guess they're talking now, but nothing seems imminent.
  
• What is being done by Barclays to fix the ice?: Nothing happening this summer as far as I know. More maintenance and upgrading with current equipment I think.
  
• Where does Ho-Sang play this year?: Bridgeport.
  
• How many points will PAP get this year?: I'd guess he'll be around 60-65 points if he can stay healthy.
  
• Will Strome hold out or be forced to sit out a year with the new owners?: Don't have an answer on that yet. But I doubt Strome holds out.
  
• On replacing Howie: Have not heard a final decision yet. Would assume it's coming in the next month or so.
  
• Why wasn't Grabbo bought out?: He wouldn't have been cleared by the team docs. Can't buy out an injured player.
  
• Will the add a depth defenseman before the season?: Not this year. They've got a top seven pretty well set.
  
• More on Grabbo: As I said, I think 84 is headed towards Savard/Pronger territory.
  

With the draft starting tomorrow I thought I'd take a look at who the Flyers could draft.
Sorry up front for poor grammar. I've done this over a few days and I'm usually hopping from tab to tab.
7th Overall
We've been talking about who the Flyers could take at 7th since before the season ended. There is not a lot I could say here that hasn't been said before on this sub. But I thought I'd lay it out there.
Ivan Provorov (D) - His great offensive prowess is matched by his suffocating D. A tremendous prospect but one has to wonder if the Flyers aren't going to try and bolster their forward prospect corp.
Mathew Barzal (C) - A great playmaking center; after coming off an injury he averaged 1.625 points per game over his last 24 games.
Mikko Rantanen (F) - The Finnish winger made a big impact with TPS this season. He finished 2nd on the team in scoring and wore the A most of the season.
Lawson Crouse (LW) - Probably the most controversial player in the draft. He's got the lowest ceiling of most players going in the top 14 but he probably has the highest floor outside of McDavid and Eichel.
Zach Werenski (D) - He put 9 goals and 25 points as a 17 year old with Michigan this season. To put in perspective how crazy young he is, Werenski could graduate at a younger age than Matt Read started college.
Pavel Zacha (F) - Zacha is a tough nut. He has raw superstar potential but had more trouble transitioning to North American play than most people expected. Most rankings have him outside the top 10, except for Bob McKenzie who has him ranked 6th meaning most teams are still really high on him. I wouldn't be surprised if the Flyers picked him at 7.
Have to Reach - Scott Laughton, Sam Morin, and Travis Sanheim were all ranked lower than the Flyers spot so it's not out of the question that the Flyers prefer someone who is a few spots down on most pundits rankings. Kyle Connor might be the most underrated player in the top 15. Tons of skill, great vision, and a great two way game. Timo Meier has a knack for the net but the knock against him is that he only put up points playing on a line with Nikolaj Ehlers (but when Ehlers missed some time with an injury Meier's production stayed the same). Colin White put up good numbers this past year but has put up great numbers in international tournaments. And darkest dark horse Evgeny Svechnikov a big framed sniper with a high ceiling.
Hextall recently said that the team really needs to hit in this draft. You can read that as him saying they need to hit a home run and go with the highest ceiling; you can read that as him saying they can't afford to miss so they'll go with the safest pick. Personally I think that means he's going for a guy with a higher ceiling.
Who I Think They Will Take: Mathew Barzal. There are no real bad options but I think they will ultimately look to grab a dynamic offensive producer. Why no Provorov? If he's on the board I think the Flyers will grab him but my gut says he wont make it down to 7th.
29th Overall
The later half of the first round is usually subject to more turmoil than earlier half. But the more draft rankings you look at this year the more you see nobody really has a great idea of what's going to happen.
Oliver Kylington (D) - A lot of people know Kylington because he was projected as a top 10 pick in the first half of the season. An injury kept him out a good chunk of the season including the WJC and I believed that helped his drop in the rankings (he dropped from around 7-8 to around 11-12 from the December-January rankings when he was injured). Being sent from Farjestad in the SHL to AIK in Sweden's second league plus having a lack luster U-18 World Championships further drove him down in most draft rankings. Bob McKenzie still has Kylington ranked in the upper 20s while some rankings, including ISS, have him ranked outside the first round. Kylington still has that top half skill and if he falls to the Flyers at 29th he could be a steal. Though if the Flyers go for a D with the 7th pick I think it'll be unlikely they go with another defenseman with the 29th pick even if its Kylington.
Denis Guryanov (W) - Guryanov (or Gurianov depending on where you read it) is another guy that would have to drop a little bit for him to reach the 29th pick. Incredibly talented with speed and a great shot. He was a late riser up draft ranking during the year (he was thought of as a second rounder for most of the season) but now most places have him ranked in the early 20s. The Russian Factor is waning but it might just be strong enough to have Guryanov slip right down to the Flyers.
Jansen Harkins (C) - Harkins great vision and a great playmaking ability make Harkins one of the best players available in the late first rounds. While most rankings have him in the mid twenties McKenzie's ranking has him at 30 putting him right in the Flyers wheelhouse. He also has a strong defensive game and a great work ethic. He's like a more talented Scott Laughton.
Brock Boeser (RW) - A top end goal scorer. Can crash the net and get dirty goals and can snipe from distance. One thing to note about Boeser, he's committed to playing at North Dakota next season meaning he had to have been recruited by Hakstol. Boeser probably wont be NHL ready for another 3 to 4 years so Hakstol may not even be with the team at that point but I bet Hexy will get Haksy's opinion on UND's star recruit.
Jake Debrusk (LW) - Tough, hard working two way winger who really has a scoring touch. Debrusk pocketed 19% of his teams goals this season, second highest percentage in the WHL behind only Oliver Bjorkstrand who was better than goal a game. But Chicago and Tampa Bay showed that a elite two way winger (Hossa and Palat respectively) are possibly the best compliment to a superstar pair.
Daniel Sprong (RW) - Sprong has been the focal point for his teams offense for two seasons now. He was considered a top tier talent at the start of the year but has slowly slipped probably because he didn't haven't as big a break out as people might have expected. He still has elite skill and would be a great player to grab late in the first round.
Jeremy Roy (D) - He's got the offensive abilities to be a stand out offensive defenseman and the positioning to make him a great defensive defenseman. High ceiling and a high floor. He's also a stud on the power play. He finished 7th in the Q in PP assists even though he missed about a third of the season. He may not end up being the Flyers top PP guy in the future (especially with Sanheim and Gostisbehere) and doesn't have a big booming slap shot but his ability to make crisp accurate passes from the blue line is definitely something the team that drafts him could build upon. Again I don't know if the Flyers will go after 2 defenseman in the first round so if they grab a D at 7th it's unlikely the go after him. But he does have great potential and is more likely to be on the board than Kylington.
Jack Roslovic (F) - Gritty forward who is probably destined to play wing in the NHL. He finished 2nd in points on the US National Development team in USHL play. Expected to go later than the 29th pick he could be a player the Flyers like based on his grittiness and production.
Jacob Larsson (D) - Great speed and vision but an unpolished offensive producer. That said he is great in his own zone but isn't a stay at home shot blocker. He's kind of like Hampus Lindholm or Jonas Brodin in that his defense is further along than his offense (at least at the time of the draft) but has the right skill set to develop a bit more offense. Pretty unlikely but could be a guy that strikes the Flyers offense.
Anthony Beauvillier (F) - If the Flyers reach I think Beauvillier is the most promising if not most likely option. Small but has game breaking ability. Speed, hands, and can snipe. His size could be an issue but I think more teams will be more open minded about taking an incredibly skilled if fairly small forward.
Daniel Vladar (G) - Goalies are hard to predict in a lot of ways. Draft position wise Vladar could jump up earlier into the first round or he could fall all the way out of the second round. They are also the hardest position to project. In the 2000 Draft Brent Krahn went 9th Overall while Henrik Lundqvist went 205th. There is a lot to like about Vladar's raw skill. And if he impressed Euro goalie scout Antero Niittymaki and in turn Hextall enough they could grab Vladar because he likely wont be around when the 61st pick rolls around.
Erik Cernak (D) - If you've followed the big international junior tournaments than you probably know Cernak. He's been the great Slovak hope for a few years. Playing in the U18 World Championship at 15 and the U20 at 16 made some pretty big waves. Those waves have kept Cernak on most teams radars even if most draft rankings barely mention him at all. In January Bob McKenzie still had him ranked as a first rounder. McKenzie has him ranked 41st in his final draft rankings. Even though he's played at a high level for years he is still very raw. He could turn into one of the best defensemen to come out of this draft or he could barely make a blip in the NHL. That high end potential could woo the Flyers but it's pretty unlikely they take him at 29th.
Who I Think They Will Take: Jake Debrusk. I definitely wont be disappointed if Harkins, Boeser, or Sprong is taken. There are a lot of very talented players and they are all very close. I just think taking a two way winger who can bucket a ton of goals will really help the Flyers a few years down the road.
61st Overall
The further we get into the draft the harder it will be to predict who will be available. A passionate scout, a player having the right game in front of the right set of eyes, or team having a long gap between picks could see an unexpected player jump way up on draft day. I'm listing these players like they are on a draft board. Better players are higher even if it's less likely they will be available when the Flyers pick. And my basis for whether or not they may be available is based on Bob McKenzie's rankings.
Jeremy Bracco (RW) - Some rankings have Bracco listed as being a mid first rounder; a testament to his immense talent. Standing at only 5'9 two inches could possibly be the only thing separating him from being significantly higher pick. Bracco would have to fall a ways to reach the Flyers at 61st Overall. McKenzie has him listed at 53rd but he does have the type of talent that could make other teams jump up and grab him even earlier than that. But size still might be an issue for some teams and he could slip down to the Flyers pick.
Ryan Pilon (D) - A smooth skating defenseman who along with Ivan Provorov made up one of the best D pairs in the entire CHL. Pilon was the guy who would hang back but his speed and smarts allowed him to handle that pressure of being the guy who was sometimes the last man back. Not projected to be a big time scorer but he does have the offensive skill to build upon. If the Flyers go with Provorov with the 7th Overall I would be really interested to see if they could keep their pair together cause it was really strong. Even if the Flyers don't grab Provorov at 7th taking Pilon at the end of the second round is still a great choice (if Pilon falls to them).
Thomas Novak (C) - Project by most to be a mid second rounder (though he's ranked 57th by McKenzie) Novak has top end talent and great intelligence. Quite a high ceiling for someone who could easily go this late in the draft. He does have a ways to go to reach that potential but a few years at Minnesota could get him there.
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson - The Swedes have been great at producing 2-way forward prospects over the last few drafts. Karlsson has some pretty good skill, strong defensive instincts, and a great work ethic. Playing last year in the USHL and is going to play at Boston University in the fall. Speaking of fall, Karlsson will have to fall a bit to reach the Flyers but he does seem like kind of player the Flyers would grab if available.
Jordan Greenway (LW) - 6'5 and over 220 lbs this power forward has tons of potential. Great speed and a great passer makes him more than just a big body in front of the net. Greenway was ranked in the top 15 at the start of the season but has fallen all the way to 62nd in McKenzie's final ranking. Consistency issues, a lack of goals, and possibly unreasonable expectations led to his free fall in the rankings. The potential is for Greenway is definitely still there.
Alexander Dergachyov (F) - Another big body power forward who also mixes his size with speed and skill. Dergachyov has some slick hands that really help around the net. Not dissimilar from Wayne Simmonds. Another player that would have to slip a bit to reach the Flyers but is more likely to fall because the previously mentioned Russian Factor.
Filip Ahl (W) - The third player in a row that is a 6'4 and over 200 lbs. Ahl had the best season of the two previous entries and equally high of a ceiling. Good vision and good hands if not as good as Greenway's and Dergachyov's respectively. While not being a standout he is incredibly efficient in all aspects of his game. While be consistently ranked as an early 2nd rounder McKenzie didn't rank him in the top 75 in his last ranking. I don't think it would be too surprising if the Flyers grabbed Ahl even if they took him over more touted players like Greenway and Dergachyov.
Matej Tomek (G) - Tomek was brought up a few weeks ago in this sub when someone posted that the Flyers were the only team to meet with him at the combine. The Slovak put up great numbers playing in the NAHL last season (1.83 GAA and a .928 Sv%). Another player committed to North Dakota next season and thus recruited by Hakstol. With Hobey Baker Nominee Zane McIntyre signing with Boston Tomek has a good chance at winning the starting job coming out of camp. If the Flyers grab I think it's more likely they wait to see if he falls to 70th but if they are high on him they could grab him at the end of the 2nd round.
Roope Hintz (F) - Finnish forward who can really finish (see what I did? Finnish/finish. We have fun). All word play a side the large framed forward has a knack for finishing a strong defensive game. He could be compared with the other big forwards Greenway, Dergachyov, and Ahl, but Hintz is more diverse. Doesn't have the slick hands or top end speed but all around strong offensively and he is easily the best defensively.
Rasmus Anderson (D) - Physical and speedy with good offensive instincts. He's strong and does a good job protecting the net but is far from a deficient skater. I definitely noticed his physical play but he is pegged more as on offensive defenseman with more work needed to round out his game.
Mitch Vande Sompel (D) - The top D on the top junior team in Canada. The undersized offensive defenseman put up great numbers last season with Oshawa. The big thing standing in MVS' way is his size. While teams may be more likely to give a small forward a chance most may still be weary of a 5'10 defenseman. He's well rounded and the Flyers might see him as a Kimmo Timonen type defenseman who can excel in both zones despite his dimunitive size.
Gabriel Gagne (F) - A lanky but strong 6'4 power forward who is good behind the net. For those keeping track at home that's five power forwards that might be available at 61st Overall. Gagne I think is at the bottom of that pile but the Flyers might see something different in his game, work ethic, or personality that puts him a the front of what is really a tightly grouped bunch of power forwards. If the Flyers go with a big guy at the end of the second round they got a lot to choose from and no real bad option, it all will come down to who they prefer.
Who I Think They Will Take: Jordan Greenway. As I just said it could be any number of big forwards. I think Greenway has the highest ceiling and the potential to still be on the board. If the Flyers don't go with a big forwards I think there is a solid chance they opt for a goalie. Matej, or even Vladar or MacKenzie Blackwood if they are still on the board.
70th Overall
This pick's closeness makes it possible for some of the people listed above to fall the the Flyers third round pick. Again the later we go the more speculative these players positioning gets.
Nikita Korostelev **(RW)* - Really good at getting open and getting a good shot off. Some games I saw with Sarnia Korostelev impressed me as much as Zacha (though that might have come from me watching Zacha with a more critical eye). A guy with good offensive instincts outside the high scoring zones are hard to come by and a guy who can mix that with a great shot has a lot to build upon.
Kyle Capobianco (D) - Quite the offensive defenseman who had been hid on one of the worst junior teams in recent memory. Capobianco helped produce 26.8% of Sudbury's total offense this past season which is one of the highest percentages in the whole draft. There was recently an article on hockey that mentioned he could grow into a more defensively sound player his offensive instincts should definitely put him on the Flyers radar at 70th Overall. It's easier to teach defense than offense.
Yakov Trenin (C) - A good two-way game Trenin uses his big frame to protect the puck and work opponents off the puck. Not a bruiser but he can play physical with some solid skill to build upon. He's a pretty good passer but I think an underrated shooter.
Blake Speers (F) - It's not much to read into but in 2011-12 when Speers was a Bantam he scored 86 goals and 167 points in 37 games in his league. Speers is a hard worker with good skill who may have had a harder time adjusting to the OHL than most (if you call 67 points in 57 games in his draft year struggling). His ceiling is pretty high but even if he doesn't reach it his work ethic could make a valuable contributor in the future.
Brendan Guhle (D) - The prototypical nasty WHL defenseman. Definitely a guy who is good in his own end and put up some impressive numbers later in the season. In the last two months of his season he put up 15 points in 22 games. If his offense continues to grow he could end up being a steal.
Erik Foley (LW) - A little physical, a little bit of a pest, but definitely knows how to find the back of the net. Though he's under six feet tall he has a drive to the net that could make him a handful. Similar I think to Andrew Shaw who is also not the biggest guy put can really do work in front of the net.
Samuel Montembeault (G) - His good size and quick clean movements could have easily put him on the Flyers radar. He back stopped the team that gave up the fewest goals in the QMJHL. But the one thing that could really help Montembeault is the Flyers connection to his team Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. One of the Armada's owners is the Flyers own Ian Laperriere. Whether it's at Lappy's suggestion or not the Flyers have given shots to many Armada players in the past. Previously they have brought players like Christopher Clapperton and Nikita Jevpalovs to rookie camp and recently signed BB's best player Danick Martel. The eyes have definitely been on Montembeault this past year and if those eyes liked what they've seen Montembeault could be the Flyers' preferred goalie in this draft.
Robin Kovacs (RW) - With 17 goals and 28 points made Kovacs one of the top scorers coming out of a European professional league. Slick hands, a great shot, and a well rounded defensive game gives Kovacs a lot of potential going forward. His lack of top end speed speed and diminutive weight has pushed him down further than his stats imply he should be, but with this kid's shot and skill he would be worth taking the risk on.
Jens Looke (W) - Flyers eyes will have definitely been on Looke this season. He played with Oskar Lindblom at both the club and international level. He played a checking role on the Swedish World Junior team and still managed two pick up 3 goals. With Brynas he, like Lindblom, bounced around the line up a little bit but he mostly skated in the bottom six. Most talk about him as been his playmaking ability; something that really couldn't shine through playing against men. It's still quite impressive for a player of his age to play a whole season in the SHL.
Parker Wotherspoon (D) - Projected to be more of a defensive defenseman Wotherspoon does have some tools that could turn him into a well rounded defenseman. Good speed and a lack of size (6'0 and around 170 lbs) means he isn't a boat anchor attached to the offensive rush. His offensive skills are rough but that didn't stop him from putting up points in the WHL and team Canada at U-18s (where he tied for the team lead in points among defensemen). Could have tons upside and his defensive prowess could draw the Flyers attention.
Who I Think They Will Take: Samuel Montembeault. Matej Tomek might still be on the board as well. I think the question most people will have with me is that now the Flyers are through 4 picks and have not taken a single defenseman. It is our biggest weakness as a team but our biggest strength in our prospect pool. I think they will lean more towards offense in this draft. They easily go with defense especially if defensemen like Provorov and Kylington are available when the Flyers pick in the first round.
90th, 98th, and 99th Overall
Such a tight grouping of picks gives the Flyers an interesting opportunity. In 2013 the Flyers took Tyrell Goulbourne in the 3rd Round because they didn't have a selection for another 50 picks. A "safe" pick for a player projected to be a depth role player. With the opposite situation of an overwhelming number of picks (plus a management change) the Flyers could use a couple picks to shoot for the moon on high risk high reward players.
Dmytro Timashov (W) - Great hands, great speed, and great vision. The Swedish national is the go to boom or bust guy in this draft. Tons of offense but standing a hair over 5'9 and a lack of a well rounded game not is probably what pushed him down. I've seen him play a bunch and I'm really amazed this guy is projected to go so low. He may never play a game in the NHL but if he does he could be an offensive star.
Loik Leveille (D) - There is an awful lot to like about Leveille. Good positioning defensively, good instinct offensively, and skill that helps him at both ends of the rink. Why would such a player Leveille fall to the 4th round? Lack of great speed mostly. Leveille isn't that big standing only around 6'0 but is listed at 220 lbs. If he doesn't pick up speed he may never make it to the NHL but I'm all for taking a guy with the two way skill of Leveille.
Troy Terry (C) - Speedy with a knack for putting the puck in the net Terry has a good amount of skill for a player that could go so late. One of the things that interest me about Terry is how a new opportunity could cause him to sky rocket. He was pushed down the line up at the National Development team playing behind a number of early round picks. He is also one of the youngest players in the draft (if he was a born a week later he wouldn't be eligible for this draft). The mix of skill and potential would definitely make him somebody the Flyers could look at.
Jesper Lindgren (D) - Tons of speed and offensive instincts gives Lindgren a very high ceiling. Sweden is great at developing well rounded two way players so while his offense is what gets attention he is far from defensively deficient. Highest scoring under 18 defenseman in the Swedish junior league. Could slip because he's ranked outside of the top 100 in most rankings I could easily see the Flyers taking him in the 90s.
Conor Garland (RW) - The QMJHL's leading scorer went unselected his first time through the draft last year. Very small (only 5'8) but with a lot of skill and a good work ethic. Even though small players are all the rage it would still take a lot of development to turn this player into a top end player. But his skill definitely makes him worth it.
Anthony Richard (C) - Another undersized point producer from the QMJHL. Richard was teammates with Nicolas Aube-Kubel so the Flyers probably got a great look at the speedy undersized sniper. I don't think he has as much skill Aube-Kubel (but I'm a lot higher than most people on NAK) but Richard has got a really excellent shot. He his speed and shot should have put him a lot higher but his size (5'9/165lbs) have where the Flyers could take a flyer on a quality player.
Radovan Bondra (W) - The big Slovak winger could be the sleeper power forward in the draft. Much like the power forwards I mentioned around the 2nd round Bondra (no relation to Peter Bondra) has good speed and a good skill set to go with his big size. I thought he played well in a defensive role at the World Junior Championship so he could develop into a depth role if his offense doesn't develop.
Pavel Karnaukhov (F) - Playing on the Calgary Hitmen with Travis Sanheim and on a line most of the year with Radel Fazleev the Flyers definitely got a good look at Karnaukhov. He's hardworking two-way center (the line with him and Fazleev drew the tougher defensive assignments) but like Fazleev has the skills to develop into a bigger point producer. He's got a very good shot and isn't afraid to jam at the net to create goals.
Dylan Malmquist (C) - Arguable the top player for years at the Minnesota high school powerhouse Edina; helping them to two state championships in his time. The jump from high school to college (he'll attend Notre Dame in the fall) isn't always the easiest it's more common for players from Minnesota. High risk, high reward.
Brad Morrison (C) - Slick hands and speed are Morrison's best attributes. He really stood out when watching Prince George and earlier I though he should be ranked much higher. He does need space to really get the play going and his 161 lbs spread across his 5'11 frame makes him really light. He will definitely need to put on a good amount of weight for him to play in the NHL but I'm all for grabbing a guy with speed, hands, and a pretty good shot in the early 4th round.
Alexandar Georgiyev (G) - The small-ish Russian goalie made the decision to leave the MHL (the Russian junior league) to go play with TPS in Turku, Finland. Why? TPS goaltending coach Urpo Ylonen is a legendary goalie guru. Ylonen retired (but stayed on as an adviser) and one of his disciples took over. Development is the biggest issue in developing a talented goalie into an actual NHLer. Georgiyev could be the sleeper because of the organization he's involved in.
Adam Marsh (LW) - Though his numbers aren't as impressive as some other possible QMJHL sleepers (he scored 24 goals and 44 points in 60 games) there are a few other factors that make Marsh an interesting sleeper pick. Cutting out an ice cold stretch in the middle of the season (only having 10 points in 26 games) Marsh was point per game. You can't ignore such a bad stretch but you can try to explain it. Marsh, an American, wasn't coming from the USHL or even the NAHL but was coming from his local Midget league. Rookies in the NHL often struggle after hot starts; Marsh could be no different. If the light weight six footer puts on the weight and builds on the strong parts of his season people could look back and think how did this guy fall so far.
Andrew Mangiapane (F) - Undrafted in 2014 Mangiapane was on what was called the best line in the CHL this past season with Joseph Blandisi and Kevin Labanc. Possibly just a result of great chemistry and maybe he'll end up just being a great junior player but if the Flyers see something I wouldn't be surprised or all that upset if they grab him in the 4th round.
Caleb Jones (D) - Quite different from his older brother Seth Jones. Smaller with a slightly different developmental path Caleb put up solid if numbers for a defenseman in the USHL. One could argue that if his older brother wasn't Seth Jones he wouldn't have gotten the opportunity he has but a strong performance at the U18 World Championship (tied for the team league for points amongst defensemen) should help to quell that assumption. A strong defensive game to compliment his offensive potential makes him an interesting later round pick. He'll be moving to his brother's old team in the WHL; if he steps it up with more opportunity in a tougher league he could become quite the player.
Christopher Mastomaki (C) - A big hardworking two way center who put up good numbers in the Swedish junior league but couldn't really put up points in the Allsvenskan (Swedish 2nd league). Not the fleetest of foot but his intelligence and work ethic could have him slightly higher than the Flyers draft board than others.
Joseph Masonius (D) - He was the highest scoring defenseman on Team USA at the U17 World Hockey Championship (a team that featured Noah Hanafin and Zach Werenski). He has tons of upside but didn't preform up to expectations this season with the National Development Team or the U18 World Championships when he wasn't in the shadow of either of those two great defensemen. If the Flyers still believe in that high ceiling they could grab him with their cluster of picks in the 90s.
Casey Fitzgerald (D) - He's small but fast with a great sense for the game. His offense is continuing to develop and is heading to Boston College in the fall. He played with the National Development team along with Caleb Jones and Jason Masonius. It's hard to tell who is at the top of the pile and the Flyers probably have one they prefer over the others, but it's no guarantee they take any of them at this point in the draft.
Joseph Cecconi (D) - A smooth skating defenseman who leans more to his own end of the rink. He apparently skates well, has solid size (6'2), and is heading to Michigan in the fall. I don't know if I would draft him but he's ranked higher than most of the people I just listed so it would surprise me if the Flyers took him.
Hayden McCool (F) - I'm going to be honest, I like this player cause his name is McCool. A power forward who had a hunger and a drive for the net. There are better power forward prospects out there, but only one of them is named McCool.
Mathieu Joseph (RW) - Good skill, good shot, and late developer. He had a few stretches where he missed time due to injury. His goal scoring could definitely grab the Flyers attention but I don't think they would take him over Adam Marsh his teammate with Saint John.
Tons of talent and tons of potential. There is a chance that all of these players will be off the board when the Flyers pick at 90; there is a chance that all of these players will still be on the board after the Flyers pick at 99. Everything is up in the air at this point in the draft.
Who I Think They Will Take:
90th Overall: Loik Leveille (D)
98th Overall: Jesper Lindgren (D)
99th Overall: Brad Morrison (C)
The Later Rounds: 128th Overall, 158th Overall, and 188th Overall
We are beyond rankings at this point. Not that players at this part of the draft aren't ranked but the rankings are basically meaningless. Teams like who they like for their own reasons. I'm just going to list off a few guys that I would really like the Flyers to take a look at in this part of the draft.
Maxim Lazarev (W) is a great talent. A bit undersized and the early knock on him is that he is perimeter player more suited for Europe. Went undrafted last year. I'd say high risk, high reward, but at this point of the draft the risk isn't that high. Marcus Vela (C) is a big skilled center from the BCHL who can score dirty goals. Jiri Fronk (W) 21 year old power forward who made the move to USHL as an overager. Long way away but could play in the AHL next year. Yegor Korshkov (W) 6'3 Russian went undrafted last year but had a major year in the MHL finished with a higher PPG than first rounder Guryanov. Tanner Laczynski (C) skilled center who made an easy jump into the USHL this season. Going to Ohio State in 16-17. Samuel Laberge (RW) big hard working winger who could make a big offensive jump next season. Played at Rimouski with Sam Morin. Lucas Michaud (RW) highest scoring underage forward in the USPHL (a lower teir American junior league). Will play in the USHL next season and Maine the year after that. Daniel Muzito Bagenda (W) project as a second rounder last year and eventually went undrafted. A strong season in the Swedish junior league could put him back on the right track and on the Flyers radar. Jake Jaremko (F) Minnesota Mr. Hockey for 14-15. Hard worker with skill. Will play in the USHL next year (actually on the same team as Lucas Michaud and Daniel Vladar) and Minnesota State after that. Vyacheslav Leshchenko (RW) the hard working 20 year old Russian winger had a great World Junior tournament and had a higher PPG average than Vlad Kamenev (2nd rounder last year) in the KHL this season. Filip Pyrochta (D) was one of my favorite sleeper picks from last year who went undrafted. After a rough start transitioning to North America Pyrochta started putting up points to match his smart defensive game. Will go back to play in the Czech Extraliga next year. Karson Kuhlman (F) undersized and overage for this draft he is two way forward who had a decent freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth. Matt Schmalz (F) 6'6 who took a big step after being undrafted last year. Like Kyle Capobianco he played on a terrible Sudbury team so his numbers might don't fully live up to his potential. Michael Zipp (D) another Calgary Hitman. Physical defenseman with a good shot. More of a stay at home guy but he developed better offensively over the season and could go further. Christian Jaros (D) another sleeper I liked from last year. Hard hitting 6'3 defenseman who skates well and from what I've seen untapped offensive potential. Matthew Freytag (F) tough two-way forward who goes to the dirty areas at both ends of the rink.
And those are just some that jumped out to me. The Flyers might not be high on any of these guys but I think they have some potential.