Американское издание Sportsnet опубликовало ноябрьский рейтинг игроков, которых клубы НХЛ могут выбрать на драфте 2024 года. Промежуточный рейтинг возглавил форвард финского «Юкурита» Конста Хелениус.
В топ-10 европейского рейтинга драфта НХЛ 2024 года оказались четверо россиян
Ahead of that, Sam Cosentino shares his latest top 32 rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft. The 2024 NHL draft does not have an abundance of Centers with clear 1C upside, but Helenius is certainly on that short list. Главная Новости СобытиеЭксперт Sportsnet Cэм Косентино включил Артема Левшунова в топ-3 рейтинга проспектов для драфта НХЛ 2024. РУВИКИ: Интернет-энциклопедия — 62-й Драфт НХЛ пройдёт с 28 по 29 июня 2024 года в Парадайсе, штат Невада, США.
The Athletic: Силаев и Демидов в топ-10 рейтинга драфта НХЛ — 2024
The 17-year-old forward player has currently committed to Boston University. Vancouver native started competing for the BC Junior Canucks in 2015. Four years later, he joined the San Jose Jr. Sharks under-14 team. Macklin joined the Shattuck St. He recorded the highest of 141 points in 50 games played in the 2020-21 season. With his scoring skills, he accumulated 46 goals and 40 assists in 50 games. He has since represented Middlesex Islanders and Shattuck St. He accumulated 28 goals and 16 assists in 32 games with the team. Recently, he committed to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
With sneaky strength, Cole has the ability to deceive goalies in the arena. As the top 2nd pick, he is set to give tough competition to Celebrini. Artyom Levshunov Artyom Levshunov from Zhlobin, Belarus is ranked third in the top draft prospects list.
Топ-10 предварительного рейтинга драфта НХЛ следующего года среди игроков, выступающих в Европе, возглавляет финский нападающий Конста Хелениус.
While the season-long numbers are not impressive, his performance toward the end of the season and in the playoffs showed development.
If development over the course of a season was not weighted, his player value would have him as a middle-round pick. With the development consideration, he was valued in the first half of the second round. Adjustments are made from viewings, as those are a critical portion of scouting. Importantly, there are no adjustments made for off-ice "intangibles" that are often discussed in team scouting meetings. Philosophically, a public ranking differs immensely from a team list.
He thinks the game on a level only few can. He anticipates plays exceptionally well and makes smart decisions with and without the puck. His defensive game relies heavily on his stick work and the physical side of the game is something he really needs to work on. That said, his tools forced our hand in keeping him inside our top 15. He uses his physicality intelligently too, always looking to separate player from puck.
Most of those pertain to the mental side of the game. From missing secondary scoring threats to becoming a deer in the headlights under pressure while stationary, Jiricek has a few hurdles to overcome, but we have seen enough flashes to believe that there is a real chance he does so. His tenacious presence on the forecheck often leads to turnovers which he quickly turns into scoring chances with accurate passes. He is a legitimately dangerous playmaker thanks to his precise puck handling and ability to get passes through lanes. He also has a strong understanding of space and timing, particularly in the offensive zone. This puts him in a good position to score on a regular basis although his finishing is only about average. His strong work ethic allows him to overcome an inefficient stride that ultimately limits his top speed. That being said, improvements in his skating technique could unlock more upside in transition. He is a very effective playmaker making passes from behind the net as well and off the half wall. Despite his small frame, he will win puck battles by using his speed and competitiveness.
Misa is supremely tenacious and will backcheck hard to try to force as many turnovers as he can. Combine that with poor size and just good skill and this is probably what separates him from a player like Zach Benson in 2023. Ritchie has very quick feet and hands with excellent puckhandling posture, making him an excellent puck carrier. Especially when given time and space to attack downhill, Ritchie is particularly adept at using those hands to find the middle of the ice for high-quality chances. Ritchie is also an effective positionally-focused player, using great puck spacing and support in all three zones and prioritizing strong body positioning before establishing puck possession. The next steps for Ritchie will be improving his standstill explosiveness and checking lanes which hinders his ability to win puck battles and adding more layers of deception to his playmaking. Ritchie has a good read of where his options are but too often telegraphs his intentions, making many of his passes unnecessarily risky. If Ritchie can improve in these areas and continue to develop, he could challenge Catton and Lindstrom for a top WHL draft-eligible. Besides the name pedigree, Iginla is an easy player to root for. His habits away from the puck are a definite strength, from his frequent scanning, active stick, good forechecking routes and hard-nosed backchecking.
He gets off the wall to the middle quickly, and can also drift into high-danger areas, and when paired with his lightning-quick snapshot, makes him a dangerous goal scorer. Iginla might lack the high-end dynamism of some of the other WHLers in this class, but his combination of all-around skills and pro-level habits make him a good bet to be a contributing NHLer. He constantly tries to take on opponents one-on-one, pushes through checks with shoulder drops and great puck placement, and always goes for the throat with his offensive zone incursions. A major difference between Connelly last year versus this year, is that he is trusting his teammates a lot more to complete his plays. As a result, his playmaking game has grown and he has adopted a distributor role that fits his skillset better than the finisher role he was trying to force last year. His defensive game is lacklustre; his motor is very inconsistent, and there have been major questions regarding his character that will likely have some teams very hesitant to bet on his upside, no matter how high it is. Developing a more mature game and showing whoever picks him that he can improve will be essential if he is going to reach his top-line ceiling. He is clicking at a goal per game and 30 points in 18 matches played as of writing this. Beyond the point totals, however, what makes Parascak so interesting is the way he puts up those points. A vast majority of the points he has produced so far have come from the low slot and off one-touch plays, which seems strange at first given how poor his skating is.
Perfectly-timed inside cuts, one-touch passes and net drives put him and his teammates in prime scoring real estate almost every shift, and he has also improved his long-range scoring to complement his short-range threat. His trademark mobility is as present as ever and is now employing multiple layers of deception at multiple levels. His passing game is remarkable, as he is able to identify soft ice regularly even at this intermediate level. He has become much better at anticipating play, and become a rather proficient stick-checker as well. He has plenty of time to get there, and he looks plenty impressive as is. If he continues on this path, he can make his placement on draft day a very difficult conversation. And boy did he ever. The undersized winger is now the captain of his team at 18 years old, and by far their leader in production and overall on-ice impact. Often their lone forward when defending a 5 on 3 power play, often out in the last minute of the game to win a key faceoff or defend the lead, Howe is the go-to guy in Regina in defensive situations as well.
Россияне Силаев и Демидов возглавили рейтинг драфта НХЛ-2024
На драфте НХЛ 2023 года было выбрано 19 россиян, что стало минимальным показателем с 2017 года. Четверо россиян вошли в десятку международного рейтинга драфта 2024 года по версии центрального скаутского бюро Национальной хоккейной лиги (НХЛ), сообщается на странице пресс-службы НХЛ в соцсети X. Драфт претендентов в НХЛ 2024 года станет 62-м драфтом претендентов в НХЛ. With some showcase tournaments out of the way, here’s a look at Daily Faceoff’s 40 rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft for November. Четверо россиян вошли в топ-10 международного рейтинга драфта 2024 года по версии центрального скаутского бюро Национальной хоккейной лиги (НХЛ) по итогам половины сезона.
2024 NHL Draft Picks By Team and Top Prospects
Тегибелорусы на драфте нхл, драфт нхл белорусы. Первая десятка рейтинга лучших проспектов драфта-2024 НХЛ по версии Sportsnet выглядит следующим образом: 1. Connor Earegood looks at the top prospects for the 2024 NHL draft.
Два игрока из КХЛ вошли в топ-5 лучших проспектов на драфте НХЛ 2024
Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm — Slick puck skill and creativity, fluid and quick skating, impressive vision all on display early this season. Slipping — These prospects have not carried over their initial performances that earned them higher rankings or have been overtaken by prospects who are rising in our eyes. Clarke Caswell, C, Swift Current Broncos — Continues to slide down our board after an initial impressive World Under-17 Hockey Challenge performance for Canada even though he flashes some strong playmaking. Justin Poirier, RW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar — The small but highly skilled forward can take over a game but only when he wants to and so far there have been too many lazy looking shifts to start the season. He takes many useless shots and he lacks some hockey IQ with awareness.
His offensive game is impressive for a defender of his size and his skating makes him even more intriguing as an NHL prospect. Yakemchuk has a rocket of a shot, scoring 19 goals last season, something that makes him a true goal scoring threat from the point. Helenius is level-headed under pressure and makes remarkable passes look routine, setting his teammates up for success. He was also good for Finland at the 2024 World Juniors in Sweden, though the stat sheet might not give you the best idea of how impactful he was. The biggest question with Helenius is if he has more skill to show. He has shown flashes of skill against his peers that make you think he could be a top-line player in the NHL, but then whenever he plays against men he plays a more reserved and safe game. Is he simply doing that in order to earn minutes as a young pro or does he not have enough skill to beat men? Buium has grown at least one inch since last season which bodes well for his draft stock since his biggest weakness at this point is his physical play. Luckily for Buium, he is an excellent skater and has plenty of hockey sense which allows him to defend incredibly well in the NCAA, and will likely help him in the NHL as well. He has good skill with the puck but his calling card will be his skating and sense which he uses to his advantage best on the rush both as a passer and a scoring threat. His performance for the Gold medal winning American team was great and I think that level of success from an 18-year-old will draw a ton of NHL attention. He plays a similar style to his brother, with lots of physical engagement and a penchant for taking big point shots, but he appears to be a better and more confident skater at the same age. Adam produces a ton of chances on offense from the blueline, readily activating into play to support his teammates and keep the puck moving. Jiricek is really great at scanning the play off puck and he persists through pressure quite well so I think he will be able to cut down on the over-the-top risks in time. I like him as a two-way defensive prospect and his right-handed shot and 6-foot-2 frame will help him out on draft day. The biggest thing holding him back this year was a major injury that has kept him out of the lineup since he sustained it in the first game of the World Juniors in December. After scoring just 18 points with the Seattle Thunderbirds last season, spending portions of the season being scratched, Iginla has flourished with the Kelowna Rockets. Regardless, he works hard and is often the first guy in on the forecheck. Once the top-12 or so prospects are off the board, Iginla will be the next best option for a team looking to add some speed and goal scoring, things that are always in short supply. Aron Kiviharju, LD, HIFK Liiga Aron Kiviharju has been the most talked about 2024 Draft eligible prospect over the two or three years, after playing most of his age-15 season in the top U20 junior league in Finland, scoring roughly a point per game as a small defenseman. He is an excellent puck handler in transition and walks the blue-line very confidently in the offensive zone. Kiviharju suffered a knee injury in a practice this Fall that led him to miss the majority of his draft year. Kiviharju is a really intelligent puck mover, controlling play with a poise beyond his years. He finished the season in the top 20 for goals and points in the OHL which is really impressive for a draft eligible player on a weaker team. Greentree does most things well, fighting hard in puck battles, making smart passes, and handling defensive responsibilities well. His greatest strength is his shot which looks like a quality NHL tool though his skill with the puck is noteworthy as well. The biggest barrier in the way of NHL success for Greentree at the moment is his skating. His hands are really quick and he plays with a ton of deception which made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the entire USHL this season. Many NHL teams have reportedly expressed concern in drafting him due to an incident involving him posting a picture of a swastika on social media a little over a year ago. However, he can get a bit of tunnel vision and try to play hero-puck a bit, losing sight of the best play and turning the puck over by trying to deke too much. He has some work to do filling out his rather skinny 6-foot-3 frame, but there is some real promise in his offensive game.
Он хорошо катается, обладает хорошей подвижностью в четырех направлениях. Хотя он был немного «зеленым» в оборонительном плане, когда приехал в USHL, он быстро прогрессировал и действительно разобрался с этим в этом году. Он умело пасует и владеет шайбой, может с комфортом руководить выходами из своей зоны и входами в чужую зону. Он умело ходит по линии и хорошо контролирует игру.
The job of the model and a public ranking is not to assess intangibles and predict what will happen in the draft; that is reserved for the mock draft. For this reason, the mock draft will look quite a bit different from the rankings because conversations with scouts, teams and people around the game will be more heavily weighted to determine which team has Player X or Player Y rated differently. Top 32 draft rankings, March 1. Petersburg MHL 3. Konsta Helenius, F, Jukurit Liiga 13.
2024 NHL Draft Picks By Team and Top Prospects
The latter is believed to be a lock to play NHL minutes on the blue line while having a lower ceiling than Michkov, who fell due to factors unrelated to his on-ice play. Cristall was considered a high-risk player that many public rankings were high on due to his eye-popping totals and package of skills, but he fell in the draft because front offices are more risk-averse. A few players who appear on this list will likely be further down or off of various team lists. The job of the model and a public ranking is not to assess intangibles and predict what will happen in the draft; that is reserved for the mock draft. For this reason, the mock draft will look quite a bit different from the rankings because conversations with scouts, teams and people around the game will be more heavily weighted to determine which team has Player X or Player Y rated differently. Top 32 draft rankings, March 1.
With a December birthday, Demidov is on the older side of first-year-eligible draft prospects. That said, the wait could be worth it as he could end up being a top-line scorer at the NHL level.
NCAA Artyom Levshunov ranks anywhere in the four to six range, but I like him at the high end of that range, right after the big three. He skates well, can move the puck, and his shot is a real scoring threat. Levshunov currently has three goals and seven points through eight games. His skill set and ability to adapt could help him become a top-pair two-way defenceman at the NHL level. Last season he scored 23 goals and 55 points in 63 games, and so far this season, he has seven goals and 18 points through 12 games. Catton reads plays at a high level, has great speed, has the hands to play in tight spaces, and is reliable on the defensive side of the puck. Dickinson is up to three goals and 10 points through 12 contests this year, which is nearly half of the totals he put up through 62 games last season nine and 23 respectively.
His floor could end up being a reliable top-four defenceman in the NHL who sees some powerplay time. Lindstrom has 22 points in 14 games which leads his team and is good for eighth in the WHL. His 13 goals also lead his team and have him tied for fourth in the WHL. He could very well end up as a solid second line centre.
Louis Blues as the result of a trade on February 9, 2023, that sent Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola to New York in exchange for Sammy Blais , Hunter Skinner , a conditional first-round pick in 2023 and this pick being conditional at the time of the trade. Louis will receive a third-round pick in 2024 if the Rangers qualify for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs [59] — was converted on March 27, 2023. Louis in exchange for this pick.
Louis in exchange for this pick. Louis Blues as the result of a trade December 8, 2023, that sent Robert Bortuzzo to New York in exchange for this pick. They are listed below with round, teams, condition itself and further notes, e.
Looking ahead at the 2024 NHL Draft’s top 12 prospects
На 20-м месте оказался нападающий системы московского «Динамо» Игорь Чернышов. Первая десятка рейтинга лучших проспектов драфта-2024 НХЛ по версии Sportsnet выглядит следующим образом: 1.
Он не самый атлетичний игрок — всего шесть минут штрафа в 68 играх в регулярном чемпионате и плей-офф. Но у него достаточно навыков и потенциала в атаке, чтобы стать лидером команды. Также в зачёт можно занести бронзу на чемпионате мира U-18.
Портер закончил сезон с 13 шайбами и 22 очками в 32 играх с Fish, а затем набрал еще 6 очков в плей-офф. Мартоне блистал на чемпионате мира U-17: 7 шайб и 5 передач. Также заработал шесть очков против старших соперников на чемпионате мира U-18. Доминирование по очкам сопровождало Мартоне постоянно, и если это продолжится в будущем сезоне, есть большая вероятность, что его выберут в первой десятке.
Вероятно, будет в топе драфта 2025 года. Логан прекрасно использует свое тело в отборе шайбы, при этом катается исключительно для своего роста. Крупные защитники, умеющие быстро передвигаться, востребованы командами НХЛ. Основной игрок команды, Бенак выбивал более очка за игру в лиге U-20 и заработал 24 балла в 12 играх в лиге U-17.
Напомним, что в первом раунде драфта 2023 года было выбрано четверо россиян: защитник Дмитрий Симашев 6-й номер, «Аризона» , нападающий Матвей Мичков 7-й, «Филадельфия» , нападающий Даниил Бут 12-й, «Аризона» и защитник Михаил Гуляев 31-й, «Колорадо». Нашли ошибку в тексте?
Также в зачёт можно занести бронзу на чемпионате мира U-18. Портер закончил сезон с 13 шайбами и 22 очками в 32 играх с Fish, а затем набрал еще 6 очков в плей-офф. Мартоне блистал на чемпионате мира U-17: 7 шайб и 5 передач. Также заработал шесть очков против старших соперников на чемпионате мира U-18.
Доминирование по очкам сопровождало Мартоне постоянно, и если это продолжится в будущем сезоне, есть большая вероятность, что его выберут в первой десятке. Вероятно, будет в топе драфта 2025 года. Логан прекрасно использует свое тело в отборе шайбы, при этом катается исключительно для своего роста. Крупные защитники, умеющие быстро передвигаться, востребованы командами НХЛ. Основной игрок команды, Бенак выбивал более очка за игру в лиге U-20 и заработал 24 балла в 12 играх в лиге U-17. На протяжении всей своей карьеры он играл против старших соперников, и в следующем сезоне он вполне мог бы попробовать силы с ХК Пльзень в высшей чешской профессиональной лиге. Херенстам отлично проявил себя в Лулео U-18, закончив сезон с показателями 10-1-0, тремя играми на ноль и 0,936 процентов сейвов в региональной лиге J-18.
The Athletic: Силаев и Демидов в топ-10 рейтинга драфта НХЛ — 2024
2024 NHL entry draft – draftpro’s first glance at the OHL. Североамериканский журналист издания The Athletic Скотт Уиллер опубликовал свой рейтинг проспектов предстоящего драфта Национальной хоккейной лиги (НХЛ). 62-й драфт НХЛ пройдёт с 28 по 29 июня 2024 года в Парадайсе, штат Невада, США. Ожидается, что драфт пройдёт на музыкально-развлекательной арене «Сфера». The top prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft are Macklin Celebrini, Cole Eiserman, Artyom Levshunov, Ivan Demidov, and Berkly Catton. List and rankings of all top prospects eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Демидов – 3-й в рейтинге драфта-2024 от NHL.com, Силаев – 4-й. 6 российских игроков вошли в топ-32
Центральное скаутское бюро Национальной хоккейной лиги (НХЛ) представило промежуточный рейтинг драфта 2024 года. NHL Inside | Обзоры НХЛ. 7 апр 2023. Пожаловаться. Колумнист авторитетного портала The Athletic Скотт Уилер представил предварительный рейтинг лучших проспектов для драфта НХЛ 2024 года. Первое место в данном рейтинге досталось канадцу Маклину Селебрини. Защитник нижегородского «Торпедо» Антон Силаев занял второе место, форвард петербургского СКА Иван Демидов стал третьим в международном рейтинге драфта 2024 года по версии центрального скаутского бюро НХЛ. Full round 2024 NHL mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings. Четверо россиян вошли в десятку международного рейтинга драфта 2024 года по версии центрального скаутского бюро Национальной хоккейной лиги (НХЛ), сообщается на странице пресс-службы НХЛ в соцсети X.
Два российских игрока вошли в топ-5 лучших проспектов драфта-2024 НХЛ по версии Sportsnet
Our teams early view of the 2024 draft crop is that this class holds solid depth of overall talent. Not only does it hold a couple of potential NHL organizational building blocks at the top but also a healthy amount of potential future NHL forwards, defenders, and even a couple potential starting goaltenders. Last year we had Connor Bedard wowing us, and while 2024 lacks that kind of high-end franchise defining player, it does hold its own skilled forwards at the top that will eventually play in a top six role. In 2023 there was a dearth in high-end defenders available but that is the opposite case in 2024 as there are a ton of highly regarded two-way, puck-moving, big defensive prospects such as Sam Dickinson, Henry Mews, Artyom Levshunov, and Adam Jiricek.
Tij Iginla, RW, Red Deer Rebels — Bloodlines run deeper than we thought as he has looked so much more dominant this season playing a prime role with the Rebels and showcasing a pro shot.
His playmaking is currently underutilized as pucks tend to end up behind the net or frozen shortly after receiving the puck. Going forward, Eiserman will need to develop some extra layers to his game in some way. Fortunately, he has plenty of time to do so. Konsta Helenius , C — Jukurit Helsinki Liiga Anni Karvinen — Konsta Helenius is a highly skilled playmaking center whose game is built around intelligence and a profound understanding of the game. He can create offense in multiple ways. However, Helenius truly excels when he takes control in the offensive zone, skillfully dangling through opponents and uncovering unforeseen passing or shooting lanes. This allows him to not only capitalize on scoring opportunities but also to create space for his teammates, as his skillset attracts the opponent.
He can control the game because of his vision and quickness. He anticipates plays before they happen and gains an edge against the opponents with his positioning. Playing in Finnish Liiga, Helenius faces professional competition in every game. Overall Helenius has good tools but it is his vision and understanding of the game that makes him such an exciting prospect. Catton has an effortless first touch, seamlessly blends puck receptions into movements without losing speed and can use his control to patiently protect the puck or to just dangle around his opponents at high speed. Coupling this awareness with an excellent passing game makes Catton an elite passer in the WHL, completing highlight-reel passes with regularity. While not overly powerful, his strides are also quick and technically sound, which he partners with lateral crossovers to generate a ton of speed in the NZ. Catton has shown an active stick and an understanding of passing lanes in the NZ, but Catton can often look lackadaisical in his own end, losing his checks and net battles.
This is especially apparent on backchecks where he frequently shows little-to-no effort. Physically gifted and willing to use it, Lindstrom is incredibly disruptive along the boards, competes hard on every puck, and does a lot of little things right. On top of that, his skating is polished and he has no problem carrying his large frame on 200 feet, with or without the puck. Early on, we probably would have ranked his playmaking as a below-average tool. His ranking at 10th overall on our early board is a bet on that incremental growth continuing, and if it does, Lindstrom could develop into something special. Above all, the Norwegian winger plays with intensity and defensive reliability. He reloads above pucks to remain engaged in offensive zone turnovers, blasts through center ice to chase down loose pucks when they pop out, and protects pucks well along the boards. The same goes for his teammates; he can set them up in great areas with a combination of vision, poise and a wide arsenal of passes, but until recently, they would lack that finishing touch.
As a 17-year-old, Levshunov is currently tied for 5th among scoring for defensemen across the NCAA, and his current point-a-game clip is on pace to be something that has not been emulated since the early 1980s. The former two being particular strengths in his game, Levshunov is simply fantastic on the puck. While he remains very raw, especially for a defenseman playing in the KHL as a draft-eligible, his tools are rather unique and the ceiling is high. Silayev covers a ton of ice, needing only three or four strides to cross the neutral zone. Defensively, Silayev relies on his extraordinarily long reach and powerful strides to close gaps quickly and very aggressively. Early in the season, he regularly over-committed, leading to odd-man rushes against, and while he can still be aggressive to a fault, this element of his game has improved significantly in our viewings. That said, his decision-making both with and without the puck and his composure remain real works in progress, which ended up being the deciding factor in our debate between him and Levshunov at 10. He bullies opponents along the boards, easily strips them of possession, and makes small-area passes to open teammates with an ease and accuracy that leaves his opponents scrambling to keep up.
In the KHL, much of the same remains, but he has also shown a whole lot of adaptability despite the limited ice-time. He tracks back, finds his check, and sticks to him. Despite making his debut in the Liiga at just 16 years old, his development has encountered some setbacks. He thinks the game on a level only few can. He anticipates plays exceptionally well and makes smart decisions with and without the puck. His defensive game relies heavily on his stick work and the physical side of the game is something he really needs to work on. That said, his tools forced our hand in keeping him inside our top 15. He uses his physicality intelligently too, always looking to separate player from puck.
Most of those pertain to the mental side of the game. From missing secondary scoring threats to becoming a deer in the headlights under pressure while stationary, Jiricek has a few hurdles to overcome, but we have seen enough flashes to believe that there is a real chance he does so. His tenacious presence on the forecheck often leads to turnovers which he quickly turns into scoring chances with accurate passes. He is a legitimately dangerous playmaker thanks to his precise puck handling and ability to get passes through lanes. He also has a strong understanding of space and timing, particularly in the offensive zone.
Boisvert is a big center 6-foot-2 with tons of skill with the puck and above average skating. Ritchie has a ton of skill and can be a daunting offensive force, slipping between checkers and making plays, but his consistency has left something to be desired this year. He can get pushed to the perimeter a bit but I think his skill and vision will be significant enough to offset that.
The points have added up all season long and have become difficult for people to ignore. Elick is one of the best skaters in the draft class for my money, and a 6-foot-3, right-shot defenseman who skates like he can will always have a place in the NHL. He has a quick and accurate snapshot that has served him well in the J20 league this year, but his skating and work ethic are the most exciting attributes he has. At just 17 years old he has already played a handful of games in the SHL. There are always a few Swedes who rise up draft boards significantly following the U18s, and I expect Pettersson to be one of them this time around. He looks pretty similar on the ice to his older brother Lane, but Cole is a more physical defender and scored more points with the U17 team than Lane did, despite having a significantly later birthday. He scored an impressive 23 points in 54 KHL games this season. Artamonov is a skilled winger with good speed and a willingness to battle for pucks in difficult areas that makes him a really fun player to watch.
Good thing too, since his wrist shot and one-time are both serious weapons. He absolutely dominated the Finnish U20 league to start the year and earned a callup to the Liiga where he has already scored a handful of pro goals. Hemming is great at skating through contact and protecting the puck, and his shot is clearly NHL caliber. He just barely measured in at 6-feet tall this season but he plays like someone several inches taller, constantly moving his feet and battling for possession along the boards and in front of his own net. He was great for Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where I thought he defended the rush really well, especially when it came to shutting plays down with a well-placed stick check. Second Round: 33. He had an excellent start to the year with Chicoutimi, scoring 17 points in just 12 games, but slowed down for most of the season. I think his skating is the only thing holding him back from being a top-20 pick, but I think some continued improvement there should be enough for him to become an NHL player for a long time.
Vanacker understands what he does well and plays a very adaptable game that I think could translate well in a middle-six role someday. Zether is a 6-foot-3, right-shot center who plays a relatively mistake-free game with a ton of puck skill and a really high compete level. He is a very tenacious player away from the puck, constantly forechecking and battling and his size might be the only thing that could hold him back. I can see him becoming a Conor Garland-type of player who makes things happen through sheer endurance and force of will in an NHL middle-six. Luchanko has good skill with the puck and skates quite well, making him a dangerous player with the puck in transition. Luchanko reads plays really well and has that knack for timing and finding openings in defensive coverage that is difficult to teach. Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie Colts OHL Cole Beaudoin is a strong two-way center who has shown good offense at the junior level but has some questions about his future offense as a pro given his sluggish skating stride. His hockey sense and stick checking often make up for his lack of footspeed in forechecking and backchecking situations, but he will need to get quicker to be as successful in the NHL someday.
He scored just eight points in 56 USHL games last season, but he has shown some excellent growth this year, already tripling that production with a few games left on the schedule. Misa looks really quick in junior, winning tons of puck races and beating defenders out wide on the rush regularly. The biggest barrier for Misa at this point is simply his size. At 5-foot-10 he struggles to play through contact against larger competitors and relies heavily on his speed, which, to his credit, does work quite well in the OHL.
He scored 21 goals as a rookie last year which was bonkers. He started off slow, but Kiviharju had points in his final two games as his ice time started to improve. Yakemchuk is skilled with the puck and makes smart decisions with the puck, but his defensive game can be a struggle sometimes. But at 6-foot-3 with his strong footwork, NHL teams will be excited. He has hovered around the goal-a-game mark for most of the season, needing just 10 games to match his 48-game run with the WHL champions Seattle last year. Beyond the scoresheet, Iginla is flashy, defensively reliable and can land a big hit, too.
Sounds a little like someone we might remember. As an October 2005 birthdate, the Norweigan forward has already been playing against pros in the second-tier Swedish league, showcasing a relentless forecheck every single game. For a nearly 200-pound winger, Chernyshov moves well, with and without the puck. Artamonov is already playing a big role, partly thanks to the way he attacks the puck and forces mistakes. He has a solid mentor in Colorado Avalanche prospect Sean Behrens, helping him to understand the pressure of playing big minutes against quality competition. There were a few times last year when Buium looked like the best player on the ice — other times, he can be invisible. He looks just like his brother, in both good and bad ways. A high-end puck-mover, Hutson can electrify with some of his moves to get himself out of trouble on the attack. He brings a competitive spirit to every game and he leaves nothing on the table when going for a hit. At his core, Elick has the makings of a shutdown defenseman that, as long as he keeps his offensive game simple, should have no issue adjusting to the pro game.