Post by brentdog on Apr 7, 2017 11:08:03 GMT -5
1) Lucas Raymond (RW) – Färjestad BK – SHL
A big-bodied winger with franchise upside, Lucas Raymond brings the complete package of speed, skill, and hockey sense. Fits the mold of a power forward but prefers to use his puck skills to intimidate opponents rather than sheer brute strength. An above-average skater with a deceptive change of pace who seems to be able to find open seams at will. Strong 200 foot player that is often first on the back check and produces a lot of dangerous scoring chances by supporting his team mates all over the ice. Has the instincts and abilities necessary to succeed as a consistent and, perhaps, dominant point producer at the iNHL level.
2) Alexis Lafrenière (LW) – Québec Remparts – QMJHL
Lafreniere has been a point-producing machine over the last two seasons, with 168 points in 126 games for the Remparts. Fantastic skater who just seems to do everything at a heightened pace. Has the kind of elite stickhandling skills that see him score highlight reel goal after highlight reel goal. Slippery and elusive on the perimeter, yet also has the necessary grit and physicality to mix it up on the inside when necessary. Has a ton of offensive upside.
3) Karel Klikorka (LD) – JHT Kalajkoi – Suomi-Sarja
A poised two-way defenceman who seems to grasp the nuances of the position far better than the bulk of his peers, Klikorka has 31 points in 36 games in the Suomi-Sarja, the third tier pro-league in Finland. Good skater with smooth strides that equate to solid acceleration from a standing start. Hardly makes a bad decision with the puck and is very calm under pressure; always seems to put his passes right on the tape of streaking forwards. Has good footwork and maintains his check well, so doesn’t let his man get the best of him. At his size, he could do with being more physical clearing his net but displays good aggression down low in the corners.
4) Hugo Styf (LD) - Frölunda HC – J18 Elit
Styf is that rare type of Swedish defenseman who plays a more rough-and-tumble, minute-munching game with a bit of offensive upside. Has a massive frame but is mobile for his size; can look a tad sluggish when quickly forced to elevate his tempo, but overall, he is very smooth on the ice. Very capable with the puck as he cradles it smoothly in transition and hits accurate passes. Has an absolute howitzer of a shot that could do with a touch more accuracy to be a consistent offensive weapon. Plays a physical game due to his natural size and strength. True competitor who will lay his body on the line to block shots and drives his team on through sheer bloody-minded determination.
5) Nick Malik (G) – Sparta Praha – Extraliga J20
As sure fire a bet to be a franchise iNHL goalie as it's possible to get at this early stage in development, Malik has been on the radar of most European scouts for some time now. Fantastically agile goaltender with all the tools you could want. Tracks the puck well in traffic and has the lightning-fast hands to usually stop it. Challenges shooters nicely and plays aggressively on his angles, trusting his reflexes to see him out of trouble. Rebound control is strong, either eating shots or deflecting them out of harm’s way. If there's a weakness in his game it's high to the blocker side, but not anything that couldn't be ironed out over time.
6) Kasper Simontaival (RW) - JVP Jyväskylä – Liiga
Simontaival is a cerebral forward who rarely makes mistakes with the puck and exudes a maturity that very few in this draft class can come close to matching. Can read and react to plays more quickly than his adversaries and uses his intelligence to create offensive opportunities. Choppy stride means he isn't the smoothest skater but his smarts more than compensate for his feet. Excels at protecting the puck and can really draw opponents well, making them pay with his vision or lethal shot. If his skating improves he has all the skills and smarts necessary to evolve into a top-line forward at the iNHL level.
7) Antonio Stranges (C) – Barrie Colts – OHL
At 6’0” and 189lbs, Stranges possesses game-breaking speed and the kind of two-way hustle that makes him an impact player in all three zones of the ice. Determined and hard-working in all situations, he anticipates well on the penalty kill, utilizing his agility and explosive feet to cut down lanes. Offensively he seems to be constantly moving to open space and can be difficult to contain when driving up ice with the puck. Needs to improve his hockey sense and not rely so much on raw speed to create his opportunities. Definite pro-upside as a two-way centre.
8) Christian Jimenez (LD) – Sarnia Sting – OHL
A quick blueliner that is a complete and dangerous offensive package, Jimenez has 38 points in 61 OHL this season. Fantastic skater with an effortless stride and light feet; loses no speed in transitions and is difficult to lock down as he can change directions on a dime. Doesn’t posses a cannon but has a solid shot with an ability to surprise goaltenders. Shows smooth hands and equally comfortable dangling through defenders or making a tape-to-tape pass. Has a good defensive read that allows him to position well and break up plays with an active stick. At 5’11” doesn’t have ideal size for a defenceman but his stockiness means he has good strength for battles down low. Overall a skilled offensive D man who perfectly fits the mold of the modern puck-moving blueliner.
9) Nikita Savchenko (RD) – Schneemänner Berlin - DL
Probably the best right-hand shot D in the draft, Savchenko has displayed confident play whilst logging big minutes with Schneemänner in the Deutsche Liga this season. A ‘do-it-all’ type of rearguard and a guy the coach can rely on in all situations. Skates well with very strong balance and overall mobility. Has impressive vision reading the forecheck and shows good poise when pressured, trusting his skills to see him through. Reads the ice like a pro and doesn't force pucks into bad situations. Plays with a physical side even though he is not overly large. Defensive play is consistently strong, utilizing positioning and his stick to disrupt his opponent. Upside as a stable top four, possibly even top pairing, denfenseman in the iNHL.
10) Ty Smilanic (C) – Tri-City Americans – WHL
A flashy offensively minded forward with a good shot, Smilanic skates extremely well and has arguably the best wheels in the entire draft. Has top end outside speed with the ability to skate past defenders wide before cutting back to the net for a scoring chance. His puck skills are elite and he can handle the puck like it’s on a string; has a plethora of tricks up his sleeves and his creativity seems to have no end. Effective backhand finisher, and he also has a hard, quick wrist shot that he gets into good position to exploit. Lacks care and awareness in his own end and needs to improve his attitude and overall effort if he is going to be an iNHLer, but it's impossible to ignore his massive offensive potential.
A big-bodied winger with franchise upside, Lucas Raymond brings the complete package of speed, skill, and hockey sense. Fits the mold of a power forward but prefers to use his puck skills to intimidate opponents rather than sheer brute strength. An above-average skater with a deceptive change of pace who seems to be able to find open seams at will. Strong 200 foot player that is often first on the back check and produces a lot of dangerous scoring chances by supporting his team mates all over the ice. Has the instincts and abilities necessary to succeed as a consistent and, perhaps, dominant point producer at the iNHL level.
2) Alexis Lafrenière (LW) – Québec Remparts – QMJHL
Lafreniere has been a point-producing machine over the last two seasons, with 168 points in 126 games for the Remparts. Fantastic skater who just seems to do everything at a heightened pace. Has the kind of elite stickhandling skills that see him score highlight reel goal after highlight reel goal. Slippery and elusive on the perimeter, yet also has the necessary grit and physicality to mix it up on the inside when necessary. Has a ton of offensive upside.
3) Karel Klikorka (LD) – JHT Kalajkoi – Suomi-Sarja
A poised two-way defenceman who seems to grasp the nuances of the position far better than the bulk of his peers, Klikorka has 31 points in 36 games in the Suomi-Sarja, the third tier pro-league in Finland. Good skater with smooth strides that equate to solid acceleration from a standing start. Hardly makes a bad decision with the puck and is very calm under pressure; always seems to put his passes right on the tape of streaking forwards. Has good footwork and maintains his check well, so doesn’t let his man get the best of him. At his size, he could do with being more physical clearing his net but displays good aggression down low in the corners.
4) Hugo Styf (LD) - Frölunda HC – J18 Elit
Styf is that rare type of Swedish defenseman who plays a more rough-and-tumble, minute-munching game with a bit of offensive upside. Has a massive frame but is mobile for his size; can look a tad sluggish when quickly forced to elevate his tempo, but overall, he is very smooth on the ice. Very capable with the puck as he cradles it smoothly in transition and hits accurate passes. Has an absolute howitzer of a shot that could do with a touch more accuracy to be a consistent offensive weapon. Plays a physical game due to his natural size and strength. True competitor who will lay his body on the line to block shots and drives his team on through sheer bloody-minded determination.
5) Nick Malik (G) – Sparta Praha – Extraliga J20
As sure fire a bet to be a franchise iNHL goalie as it's possible to get at this early stage in development, Malik has been on the radar of most European scouts for some time now. Fantastically agile goaltender with all the tools you could want. Tracks the puck well in traffic and has the lightning-fast hands to usually stop it. Challenges shooters nicely and plays aggressively on his angles, trusting his reflexes to see him out of trouble. Rebound control is strong, either eating shots or deflecting them out of harm’s way. If there's a weakness in his game it's high to the blocker side, but not anything that couldn't be ironed out over time.
6) Kasper Simontaival (RW) - JVP Jyväskylä – Liiga
Simontaival is a cerebral forward who rarely makes mistakes with the puck and exudes a maturity that very few in this draft class can come close to matching. Can read and react to plays more quickly than his adversaries and uses his intelligence to create offensive opportunities. Choppy stride means he isn't the smoothest skater but his smarts more than compensate for his feet. Excels at protecting the puck and can really draw opponents well, making them pay with his vision or lethal shot. If his skating improves he has all the skills and smarts necessary to evolve into a top-line forward at the iNHL level.
7) Antonio Stranges (C) – Barrie Colts – OHL
At 6’0” and 189lbs, Stranges possesses game-breaking speed and the kind of two-way hustle that makes him an impact player in all three zones of the ice. Determined and hard-working in all situations, he anticipates well on the penalty kill, utilizing his agility and explosive feet to cut down lanes. Offensively he seems to be constantly moving to open space and can be difficult to contain when driving up ice with the puck. Needs to improve his hockey sense and not rely so much on raw speed to create his opportunities. Definite pro-upside as a two-way centre.
8) Christian Jimenez (LD) – Sarnia Sting – OHL
A quick blueliner that is a complete and dangerous offensive package, Jimenez has 38 points in 61 OHL this season. Fantastic skater with an effortless stride and light feet; loses no speed in transitions and is difficult to lock down as he can change directions on a dime. Doesn’t posses a cannon but has a solid shot with an ability to surprise goaltenders. Shows smooth hands and equally comfortable dangling through defenders or making a tape-to-tape pass. Has a good defensive read that allows him to position well and break up plays with an active stick. At 5’11” doesn’t have ideal size for a defenceman but his stockiness means he has good strength for battles down low. Overall a skilled offensive D man who perfectly fits the mold of the modern puck-moving blueliner.
9) Nikita Savchenko (RD) – Schneemänner Berlin - DL
Probably the best right-hand shot D in the draft, Savchenko has displayed confident play whilst logging big minutes with Schneemänner in the Deutsche Liga this season. A ‘do-it-all’ type of rearguard and a guy the coach can rely on in all situations. Skates well with very strong balance and overall mobility. Has impressive vision reading the forecheck and shows good poise when pressured, trusting his skills to see him through. Reads the ice like a pro and doesn't force pucks into bad situations. Plays with a physical side even though he is not overly large. Defensive play is consistently strong, utilizing positioning and his stick to disrupt his opponent. Upside as a stable top four, possibly even top pairing, denfenseman in the iNHL.
10) Ty Smilanic (C) – Tri-City Americans – WHL
A flashy offensively minded forward with a good shot, Smilanic skates extremely well and has arguably the best wheels in the entire draft. Has top end outside speed with the ability to skate past defenders wide before cutting back to the net for a scoring chance. His puck skills are elite and he can handle the puck like it’s on a string; has a plethora of tricks up his sleeves and his creativity seems to have no end. Effective backhand finisher, and he also has a hard, quick wrist shot that he gets into good position to exploit. Lacks care and awareness in his own end and needs to improve his attitude and overall effort if he is going to be an iNHLer, but it's impossible to ignore his massive offensive potential.