In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).
For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the top young netminders in the NHL was also one.
Last year, eight “re-entry” candidates went in the top four rounds; Ilya Nabokov, Jesse Pulkkinen, Ondrej Becher, Pavel Moysevich, Trevor Hoskin, Chase Pietila, Dmitri Gamzin, and Blake Montgomery. Nabokov and Pulkkinen were taken in the second round. In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1): (Part 2): (Part 3): We wrote about six of those eight. In total there were 42 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 42, we identified and wrote about 25 (well over half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.
In 2025, we have some very interesting candidates. Tanner Adams, a player we have ranked and written about previously, continues to improve at the NCAA level with Providence and has emerged as one of the better players in Hockey East. Jamiro Reber and David Granberg look like great picks out of Sweden. Reber has been fantastic in the SHL this year, while Granberg was one of Sweden’s top players at the WJC’s. Magomed Sharakanov has emerged as one of the top young defenders in the KHL. Kristian Epperson has paired with Michael Misa in Saginaw to become one of the OHL’s elite play drivers. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% this year.
This is part one of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from Canadian leagues.
OHL
Kristian Epperson - Wing - Saginaw Spirit
Epperson’s draft year with the NTDP was a year to forget. He fell out of favour with the coaching staff, saw his ice time reduced, and was eventually left off of the U18 team for the IIHF Championships (demoted to the U17 team in the USHL). However, he’s been a revelation for the Saginaw Spirit this season, pairing with potential top five pick Michael Misa to form a dynamic duo. They formed immediate chemistry, and it’s had a profoundly positive effect on the development of both players. Epperson is best described as a skilled, high-energy guy. He’s a very strong skater who does a very good job of altering pace, keeping defenders guessing as they try to contain him. He protects the puck really well in open ice with how good his edge work is. He leans more playmaker than scorer and isn’t as dynamic with the puck as linemate Michael Misa, but he’s proven to be a great complement to more skilled players because of his compete level, and with how he can drive play with his feet, find open space or open teammates. Not only is he finding the score sheet consistently, but Epperson has impressed in all three zones with his high energy approach. He can kill penalties. He is aggressive on the forecheck and the backcheck. There is definitely a middle six projection here and for that reason, Epperson has to be considered one of the best re-entry candidates from any league this year. (Brock Otten)
Ben Hrebik - Goaltender - Barrie Colts
This year was supposed to be the Sam Hillebrandt show in Barrie; the U.S. WJC netminder was considered a preseason favourite for OHL goaltender of the year. While Hillebrandt hasn’t been bad, he hasn’t been as good as OHL rookie Ben Hrebik, who has come out of nowhere to be one of the OHL’s best netminders this year. His strong play has created a platoon between the two of them and if the playoffs started today, I reckon Hrebik would be the starter. NHL Scouting staffs are bound to be intrigued by Hrebik’s upside given his size (at 6-foot-3) and athleticism combination. He’s very active and quick in the crease. He covers the net really well and never seems to quit on a play. A traditional butterfly netminder, he has lightning quick pads and scrambles to make saves in a way that makes one believe Hrebik is/was a Jonathan Quick fan growing up. The technical components are a work in progress. He can struggle with rebounds and often has to make an extra save or two than he needs to. He can overcommit on his pushes and not cover his angles properly. He can be susceptible five hole when teams get him moving. That said, these are correctable issues, especially given how athletic Hrebik is. So long as his strong play continues to the end of the year, he’s definitely going to be on the NHL draft radar. (Brock Otten)
Charlie Paquette - Wing - Guelph Storm
One of the hottest players in the entire OHL, Paquette is now knocking on the door of the top ten in goal scoring. Paquette has always been someone who has flashed the upside of being an impact OHL player (and NHL prospect), but consistency has been an issue. It appears that the light bulb has finally gone on, as he has emerged as a leader for the rebuilding Storm. In the 39 games since the beginning of December, Paquette has 30 goals and 26 assists. That’s pretty remarkable production. A big body presence with long powerful strides, OHL defenders are having a heck of a time stopping Paquette from driving the net and getting to the middle of the ice. Paquette also has a great shot and scoring instincts. He’s excelling on the powerplay as both a net front presence and a shooting option from the flank where he can utilize his heavy one timer. Given his size and improving skating and skill, it would not shock me at all if an NHL team jumped on Paquette this year at the draft. (Brock Otten)
Jack Brauti - Defense - Niagara IceDogs
A three-way deal in the offseason brought Brauti to Niagara, where he has blossomed into a quality two-way defender for the upstart IceDogs. We had Brauti ranked just outside our top 250 last year, but he has improved his projection this year with improved on puck play and playmaking ability. He’s not a natural fit to run a powerplay, but he has been effective doing so for Niagara and has them operating as a top ten unit in the OHL. He can lug the puck up with confident, smooth strides, and he gets shots through with efficiency. Brauti’s best asset is his energetic and assertive approach to defending. He’s a tough and physical competitor who blocks shots and who likes to take away space from opposing forwards. He can struggle, at times defending pace; his lateral and backwards stride aren’t always the cleanest. However, he’s largely effective and efficient. Does he have enough upside to entice NHL teams? There’s a profile here similar to a guy like Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddysh, who has taken some time to develop into a quality depth defender. (Brock Otten)
Anthony Cristoforo - Defense - Windsor Spitfires
Heading into last year, Cristoforo was seen as a potential top two round selection following a standout rookie year in the OHL. However, defensive and physical engagement issues, combined with offensive regression, led him to slide down lists and out of the draft altogether by June. This year, he’s unquestionably returned a better and more confident overall player. The Spitfires have returned to the top of the standings, and he’s been a big part of that as one of the OHL’s time on ice leaders. Look, he’s still not a defensive stalwart and he’s not going to project that way at the NHL level either. There’s still a need to improve his ability to clear the net front and win consistent battles along the wall. He still plays a fairly high-risk game at both ends. However, it can also be said that he’s been way more engaged and involved at both ends, blocking shots, killing penalties, completing breakouts under pressure, making better and quicker decisions as a powerplay quarterback. There’s progression here in his draft +1 that leads you to believe that he can continue to evolve. (Brock Otten)
Mitch Young - Defense - Sarnia Sting
We had Young on the draft radar last year as a re-entry candidate, but he ultimately went unselected. In his final year of draft eligibility, he remains on the scouting radar thanks to another strong season for the Sarnia Sting. It’s obvious that NHL scouts are looking at him closely too, since he was one of the few re-entry candidates named to the OHL Top Prospect’s Game in Brantford. Young, despite being older and gaining experience, remains a raw defender. He’s a high risk, high reward type of player and that likely won’t change. However, there’s no denying that he is one of the OHL’s most skilled individual defenders. He routinely escapes pressure thanks to quick hands and quick feet. He is aggressive offensively. He’s a high impact guy. Young is also a physical defender. He loves to play aggressively defensively too. Sometimes that means he gets burned at both ends, but you live with it. I remain steadfast that if he were playing for a better team (not a bottom five one in Sarnia), we’d be seeing Young in the top five of defenseman scoring in the OHL. Young has the athletic talent to be an NHL defender. Can his sense and decision making catch up? I think it’s worth a shot to find out. (Brock Otten)
Carter Lowe - Wing - Barrie Colts
The big winger has been one of the most improved 2006’s in the OHL this year, on pace to triple his production from last year. His straight-line skating has improved a lot, to the point where he’s now able to win races to space and to the puck. He’ll look to take on defenders one on one with the puck but has impressive vision and playmaking sense for a bigger winger. The physical element to his game has improved considerably too. He’s now leveraging his size to win battles, getting to the net, and is making plays in all three zones. The Colts have been using him as a primary penalty killer this year and to help them close out games, a testament to his upside as a two-way forward. The skating profile will need to continue to improve. The upside may not be significant. However, NHL scouts love bigger forwards who take big steps in their draft year plus one and that’s definitely Lowe. (Brock Otten)
Carson Campbell - Defense - Kitchener Rangers
Campbell is a player who has stepped up big time this year to take on a larger, top four role with the Rangers and he is excelling. While +/- isn’t the world’s best stat to use for player effectiveness, in this case, the fact that Campbell leads the Rangers at +16 (as of writing this) is symbolic of his importance to Kitchener. Campbell is not a defender who will wow you with skill, however, he is highly intelligent and aggressive offensively; always looking for opportunities to jump up in the play or lead the rush. If not for Cameron Reid, Campbell would likely be receiving significant powerplay time as a quarterback; there is offensive upside there. Defensively, Campbell’s game has grown. He’s counted on to kill penalties and his active stick, strong mobility, and tenaciousness make him an effective player in his own end. Campbell’s upside at the next level may not be significant, however, this is a right shot defender with decent size, mobility, and two-way sense. They don’t grow on trees. (Brock Otten)
Vann Williamson - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs
Like Campbell, Williamson is another two-way, right shot defender with good mobility. They’ve both become heavily relied upon by their teams in their draft year plus one. Williamson is an excellent transitional defender because of his mobility and aggressive physical approach. He’s not extremely aggressive offensively, but he moves the puck quickly in the offensive zone and does a good job getting point shots through traffic to generate second chance opportunities. Sometimes his decision making in the defensive zone can be questioned, be it in terms of puck movement or when to play aggressively, but he’s progressed well this year and has some pro level attributes. (Brock Otten)
Callum Hughes - Wing - Erie Otters
Hughes has been a great complementary piece for the Otters since signing out of the BCHL. The Boston University commit loves to play the game at a breakneck pace. He was on the draft radar last year with West Kelowna (BCHL), but NHL teams were likely concerned about a lack of upside so he went unselected. Those same upside concerns are likely still present, however, he’s been an effective high energy guy in the OHL. He looks to use his speed to get to the net, force turnovers, and get after it on the forecheck. He flashes goal scoring upside and that’s likely his ticket to a pro career. If he could pair that with his pro frame, tenaciousness, and speed, he could be a quality role player. NHL teams are likely keeping close tabs on him over the rest of the year to see if his offensive game and production can keep improving. (Brock Otten)
Lauri Sinivuori - Center - Oshawa Generals
When the Generals were hit with the surprise that Minnesota Wild draft pick Rasmus Kumpulainen was returning to Finland, they turned to selecting Sinivuori in the import draft and he’s filled a similar role for the team in the top six. Sinivuori is best described as a rugged, power center. His game is not complicated. He gets pucks to the net. He gets to the net. He looks to engage physically to gain leverage. His skating isn’t the most elegant, but he can build speed with some big strides. It’s just sustaining said speed or making sharp changes (due to a stride that tends to get very wide) that prevent him from being more dynamic with the puck. I also wish that he were a little more consistently engaged in the defensive end, given his physicality. NHL Central Scouting seems to really like him and he’s very clearly on the NHL draft radar, but he’s likely a player with pretty limited upside. (Brock Otten)
Trenten Bennett - Goaltender - Owen Sound Attack
With Carter George away at the World Juniors, the Attack brought in Bennett out of the CCHL and he was impressive in that limited appearance. So much so that NHL Central Scouting has ranked him inside the top ten of North American netminders. He returned to Owen Sound for one game in February too. The St. Lawrence commit definitely has size going for him (at 6-foot-8), so that’s where NHL CS’s rooting interest is coming from. As you might expect, he plays pretty deep in his crease in an attempt to utilize his size and minimize wasted movement. He’s got quick pads and moves well with his initial push, allowing him to take away the bottom of the net. However, in scramble situations, he can struggle to maneuver from the butterfly and often can’t make those second or third chance saves. Additionally, because he plays so deep in his crease and is a more traditional butterfly netminder, he can struggle with longer shots through traffic. If an NHL team drafts Bennett, it’s a major swing for the fences based on size alone. (Brock Otten)
WHL
Gavin Garland - Center - Tri-City Americans
Garland went on something of a tear in the 2024 calendar year. First, he helped his Calgary Canucks squad win an AJHL championship, while scoring at over a point-per-game pace throughout the postseason. And then, after changing his mind about going the college route for his development, he joined the WHL's Tri-City Americans and stormed out of the gate with his new team, scoring 13 points through his first 10 games. He is a smart, highly competitive center who plays with more intensity and bite than his smaller size might let on. While he's not a particularly fast skater, he has a great motor and always plays at as high of a pace as he can. His awareness and decision-making are acute in all three zones, along with an accurate sense of timing and a solid understanding of how to win pucks by getting under his opponents. If he makes the NHL it would almost certainly be as a winger, with any time down the middle being primarily spot duty. Garland should draw some interest in the back half of the 2025 draft as a potential plug-and-play support player in a similar vein as names like Nick Cousins and Vinnie Hinostroza. (Derek Neumeier)
Luke Mistelbacher - Wing - Swift Current Broncos
One of the WHL's leading goal-scorers and point-getters, Mistelbacher has unexpectedly blossomed into an offensive driver for Swift Current. He's a high-volume shooter with a real knack for finding good looks at the net and then smartly picking his spots. His release is more about accuracy than power, with an impressive ability to disguise his intentions and shoot from a variety of angles and body positions. He also displays plenty of poise when he's on the attack, comfortably dusting or dragging the puck until he finds a shot or pass option that he likes. Where things get tricky with Mistelbacher is that he doesn't have much of a "B" game to speak of — he's not physical, he doesn't kill penalties, and he leaves minimal off-puck impact in general. His average size and average skating ability do him no favours. That's all concerning, because his offensive contributions are good but not great. If he can't carve out a dedicated scoring role on an NHL team, which is a realistic possibility, he likely won't be in the league at all. Teams are already doing their due diligence on him, but final opinions will probably vary. (Derek Neumeier)
Bryce Pickford - Defense - Medicine Hat Tigers
Pickford was part of the championship-winning Seattle Thunderbirds team in 2022-23 as a 16-year-old, but he struggled the following season on a severely depleted roster and was completely passed over in the 2024 draft. However, an off-season trade to Medicine Hat has breathed new life into his game and is forcing scouts to circle back for more viewings. The points are flowing for him this year, stemming largely from his strong work quarterbacking his team's lethal powerplay. He's more of an opportunistic offensive producer than a true play-driver, utilizing his awareness and poise to recognize weak points in coverage that he can exploit. He loves to lean into his shots from the point, with increasing amounts of success. Defensively, his approach boils down to simplicity and consistency. He minimizes risk-taking with his exits and breakouts, opting instead to work safely within his limits. At the same time, there are concerns about his ability to make stops and win possession back for his team, as his size, reach and skating ability are all below average. Those concerns were the main reasons why he wasn't drafted last year, so the question now is whether his offensive improvements will be enough to change the minds of scouts. Could all of his time spent around and with high-end prospects provide a long-term advantage for him and help propel him to the NHL one day? That seemed to be the case for Tampa Bay's Darren Raddysh, a player with a comparable history and playing style. (Derek Neumeier)
Seth Fryer - Defense - Victoria Royals
Fryer is a truly towering human being, with his height officially listed as 6-foot-7 on the WHL's website. That hasn't changed compared to last season when he wasn't drafted, but what is different now are the improvements that he's made to his balance, puck management and ability to read the play as it unfolds around him. None of those traits would still be considered strengths of his, but they're not quite as concerning as before and do less to outweigh the inherent advantages provided by his rare size and length. With Fryer, what you see is what you get, right from the first few impressions: he has obvious potential as a defensive disruptor, but he's clearly not a natural when it comes to handling the puck and will never be relied on heavily as a carrier or distributor. Regardless, one-dimensional players can still carve out jobs in the NHL, so long as they are standout talents within their roles. In order for Fryer to get to that level he'll need to improve his intensity, focus and physical play, which he should get extra opportunities to do this spring on a newly loaded up Royals team that is built to make some noise in the playoffs. (Derek Neumeier)
Alex Worthington - Goaltender - Edmonton Oil Kings
Worthington has walked an unusual development path over the past few seasons to get to where he is now. After two previous disastrous seasons in Edmonton that resulted in minimal starts and a barrage of goals against, he took his game to Briercrest College in the little-known Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference last year, becoming one of only two teenagers in the entire league. It turned out to be a brilliant decision for him: his performance rebounded impressively on the successful club, and he used that momentum to rejoin the Oil Kings and unexpectedly win the starter's job on the team right as the season began. In terms of playing profile there's a lot to like, as a netminder with ideal size who also possesses quick limbs, sharp reflexes and fluid mobility in and around his crease. There's still a lot of work that he'll need to do, primarily involving some suboptimal play-tracking, imprecise positioning, and his form being a little porous at times. However, those concerns can largely be traced back to inexperience, even though he's a 2005 birthday. Worthington has already shown the ability to take big steps forward in his development, so if the right NHL organization drafts him and patiently works with him then there's a chance that they'll be handsomely rewarded somewhere down the road. (Derek Neumeier)
Ethan MacKenzie - Defense - Edmonton Oil Kings
It would have been easy for scouts to glaze over or outright miss MacKenzie last year. He only had one measly point in his first 19 games on a basement-dwelling Oil Kings squad, and then he was sidelined due to injury for nearly four months. Luckily for him he was able to return for seven games before season's end, picking up five more points, and a little bit of confidence too. That helped propel him through the summer and training camp into a successful start to his 2024-25 campaign, emerging as one of his team's most trusted defensemen. There was a lot of competition to fend off, too, as Edmonton has dressed a total of 11 different blueliners up to this point. Now he's averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game, which includes top powerplay duties and regular shifts on the penalty kill. His primary value, though, comes from what he does at even strength: using his quick feet and high pace to drive possession offensively, while assertively taking space away from opponents defensively. His play style is common to see in the NHL, and if he keeps improving at his current rate he'll get noticed more and more. (Derek Neumeier)
QMJHL
Julius Sumpf – Center/Left Winger – Moncton Wildcats
If he was not known before his performance at the World Junior Championship, he made sure to change that after being one of the most important players for team Germany. Even if it was not an easy tournament for them, Sumpf still managed to collect a grand total of seven points in five games on the 12 goals scored by Germany. Currently playing his second season in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, Julius Sumpf is on the first line, playing a ton of minutes with Desnoyers and Pekarcik. He brings to the line speed, intelligence and hard-work, always first on the forecheck and not afraid to play physically thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame. His great skating ability allows him to create offensively on the rush or by rotating in the offensive zone, looking for an opportunity to pass the puck or crash towards the net to get a scoring chance. Although his offensive output is not neglectable, Sumpf's best attributes are displayed on the defensive side of the game. Playing a big number of Moncton’s penalty kill minutes, he puts tireless pressure on the puck carrier and fights hard for the puck. Sumpf is looking like a Jack of all trades, but with everything at a high enough level to be translatable in the NHL. He can be projected as a middle six forward that can help in difficult situations and help the offensive production at times. (Jérémy Tremblay)
Vincent Desjardins – Center/Right Winger – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
When looking at a prospect profile, one important piece of information is always the date of birth of the player. When a player is still seventeen on draft day, it often means that his development curve is behind the vast majority of players. It was the case for Vincent Desjardins, who was a single week from being eligible for the 2025 NHL draft instead of last year. This year was really important for the development of his game, and many things have already changed. Desjardins is, above all, a speedy and skilled forward that works hard to get pucks in the corner and on the forecheck. Last year, his decision-making was a big question mark, where most of his decisions were doubtful and not quick enough. This year, he is way quicker with the puck, his passing is accurate, and he generates a ton of offence from it. Although he has a great level of skills, he has simplified his game and has learned to make better use of his speed to move with the puck in the offensive zone. He is often the first player to forecheck and he does it hard. Rarely do you see him lose a battle along the board, using quick hands and bursts of speed to exit with the puck. If we think of Desjardins as a first year eligible and ask ourselvesl; has he made enough improvement to be drafted? I think that the answer is yes. (Jérémy Tremblay)
Jordan Tourigny – Defender – Shawinigan Cataractes
Now with his third and final chance to get drafted, Jordan Tourigny was a player that I thought would get drafted in his first year of eligibility. I do think Tourigny deserves more recognition for his game. As the captain of the Shawinigan Cataractes, he plays a big role on and off the ice for the team, showing confidence and maturity. He was always an offensive defenseman that loved to jump into the attack and try to create chaos in the opposite zone by moving one way or another with the puck. Although his stats have not improved much since his draft year, Tourigny’s game has been refined in every detail. Now heavier, he is more aggressive on the puck carrier, he plays hard in the corners to win puck battles and delivers checks all over the ice whenever he has the chance. This has not had a negative effect on how he plays in transition, always skating hard and fast end to end. He did improve his decision making when he has the puck; his passes are more accurate and the timing even better. That was a big concern in his own zone in the past two seasons, where he was losing possession of the puck with bad passes or by getting rid of the puck when he was under pressure. Now calmer with the puck, and with his offensive potential, he could be a third pair defender that moves the puck well on the ice. Will any NHL team take a chance on him this year? (Jérémy Tremblay)
Linards Feldbergs – Goaltender – Sherbrooke Phoenix
I bet that very few people even knew about Feldbergs’ existence in his draft year, last year. Feldbergs was a goalie playing in the Latvian pro league with decent stats, and who played one game in the 2024 World Juniors with Latvia, but had a .774 save percentage. There was realistically no chance for him to be drafted because of how unknown and unproven he was. This year, he came over to the QMJHL with Sherbrooke and has been decent. Again though, I would not be surprised if most people still didn’t know about him before this December. What really made people turn their heads was his performance in this year’s World Juniors, especially against Canada. Thanks to him and Eriks Mateiko (another QMJHL prospect), Latvia was able to defeat Canada 3-2 and shock the entire world. In that game, Feldbergs stopped 55 of 57 shots directed to him, as well as all eight shootout attempts to get the win. In that entire tournament, he finished with a .929 save percentage. He was simply as exceptional as a goaltender can be for a team like Latvia. He is not particularly big at 6-foot-2, but his calmness and poise were flowing through the entire team in that tournament, in every game, making Latvia a much better and tougher team to play against. I can’t stress enough how incredible he was in that tournament, not just against team Canada. Even with Latvia’s early exit in the quarter finals, some fans were cheering for Feldbergs to be the MVP of the tournament. It will be interesting to see if he gets drafted, knowing how many eyes are drawn on the world juniors every year. Feldbergs was able to shine bright on the biggest stage, which is the best way to prove to scouts that you deserve a chance to be drafted. Feldbergs was recently ranked 20th amongst NA goalies, and if he can pull off some great performances with Sherbrooke when the playoffs roll around, his stock could rise even more. Saves in motion, and through traffic, is how he is often beat, so this is also something to take note of. (Jeremi Plourde)
Emmanuel Vermette – LW – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Vermette might not be a dominant player from a statistical standpoint, only producing at a point per game pace in his draft year+2 season. However, with Vermette, you really need to watch him to get why he could be picked this summer; not only does he play a very NHL-like game, but he can also be an exciting player. He has a heavy net front approach, some quick thinking and execution with optimal timing and a well-rounded, physical game. He doesn’t fear being pushed around or having to push others around and tends to finish his checks along the board. There’s a lot of translatable habits and ways of playing the game that could make him an interesting option as a late round overager pick. As well, as I mentioned, he can show some interesting flashes of skill. Vermette can demonstrate some great hands dangling through opposition and attacking the middle, he works well in transition with his linemates, and he gets a bunch of good scoring chances around the net every game. He can be quick and dangerous on a fast break, beating a defenceman with speed and strength to get a scoring chance. As a skater, he has above average speed and technique, but it isn’t a particular strength that would take him to the next level. I would like to see better puck control when he skates near his top speed, he tends to lose control in those scenarios. Playing more rambunctiously, more aggressive in front of the net can help his odds of making it to the NHL, to really separate himself from other players who play a similar role. Again, like Feldbergs, I feel like if he has a good playoff run, he’s the type of late round flyer some teams might like to bet on. (Jeremi Plourde)
Thomas Desruisseaux – Wing – Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Another Saguenéen who could be a potential overager pick this upcoming draft, but a year younger than Vermette. I was personally pretty surprised to not hear Desruisseaux’s name last June at the draft; I really thought he was at least a decent bet in the later rounds, and I still feel the same way. Unfortunately, he has not had a sizable improvement in his production, which makes it harder for him to be drafted. I still believe that there’s a chance it happens, because of some tools he possesses. First of all, Desruisseaux plays at a great pace. He’s able to outskate and outpace the opposition’s defence by attacking the outside and contributes to creating chaos offensively. It’s hard to cover him on fast breaks because of his explosiveness. He’s annoying to deal with for the opposing defenseman with the puck, because it takes him very little time until he’s in front of you ready to scoop the puck. Desruisseaux’s skills are also good enough for him to execute at speed, which he likes to do a lot. He’s able to shoot the puck between his legs to change the angle of his shot in full motion and he can move laterally when entering the zone to keep control of the puck. He’s been driving the play way more this year; he’s been way more effective and involved in the play in general. Desruisseaux is a really eye-popping player when he’s on his A game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he caught the attention of an NHL team enough to be drafted this summer. Getting a stronger, more powerful shot could help him produce now and at the next level, as well as having a more physical approach to the game. (Jeremi Plourde)
OJHL
Alexander Levshyn - Goaltender - Toronto Patriots
A really nice story. A Ukranian netminder who left the Dynamo Moscow program in order to play in Toronto (first with the Toronto Red Wings U18 program, now with the Patriots of the OJHL). However, he’s a legitimate prospect who is dazzling in Ontario Tier 2 this season. He’s a good athlete who has lightning quick pads. He is a fierce competitor who never seems to quit on a play; scrambling to find ways to make saves ala Jonathan Quick or Dominik Hasek. He does all that in a 6-foot-3 frame. There’s no doubt that Levshyn would have caught some eyes at last year’s Division 1 U18’s, where he nearly led Ukraine to promotion to the main group. This year at the Division 1B U20’s, he led Ukraine to promotion and was the top goaltender at the event. Now that he’s performing well in a quality league and has a commitment to a solid program (Clarkson), the interest could be even greater. However, he is very raw. The rebound control needs massive improvement. Technically, he’s underdeveloped, with a tendency to flop out of position or miss his angles. But you can’t teach his size, athleticism, and play tracking ability. Look for him to be a pick this year, especially if he can finish the year strong and get the Patriots past the first round or two in the playoffs. (Brock Otten)
BCHL
Jaden Cholette - Goaltender - Cranbrook Bucks
A goaltender who has certainly bounced around in hopes of advancing his skill and earning looks. Originally a sixth round selection of the London Knights (OHL), Cholette has played in the CCHL, at a prep school south of the border (Mount St. Charles), and now finds himself in the BCHL. Currently without an NCAA commitment, Cholette has put himself on the scouting radar by being one of the BCHL’s top netminders this year. A right-gloved netminder, Cholette shows well as a play tracker. He’s got good size and he’s aggressive in challenging shooters or battling for sight lines. He’s not the most athletic or the quickest post to post, but he competes to make second/third chance saves. Technically, Cholette seems to be prone to giving up goals on the short side and his overall positioning could use some work from a consistency standpoint. But scouts could be intrigued by his year over year improvements in combination with his size in the crease. One of those guys you draft in the late round and stash, hoping that an NCAA program can help him improve further. (Brock Otten)
Rasmus Svartström - Wing - Cranbrook Bucks
Another member of Cranbrook, Svartström came to the BCHL from Finland to try to acclimate to the North American game before heading to St. Lawrence University. It’s not too often that a BCHL player in their final year of draft eligibility is on the draft radar, but it’s also not common for a 6-foot-5 import winger to be leading the BCHL in goal scoring (as of writing this). A massive human, I actually expected Svartström to be a different kind of player. I mean, I expected the physical element to be prominent and it is; he’s a very aggressive physical player. He runs over opponents in pursuit of the puck. However, I figured that he’d be purely capitalizing near the net front and just dominating in the bumper spot on the powerplay. Instead, Svartström is actually creating his own scoring chances as much as he’s finishing off those created for him. He’s not nearly as bad of a skater as I was anticipating. He actually can build decent linear speed, which helps him drive the net and put defenders on his back. There’s a ton of room for him to become more explosive and more agile but given that his game is mostly North/South, it doesn’t hinder him. He also shows well off the puck in the offensive end, working to make himself a passing option; timing cuts well to get scoring looks. Lastly, his shot is a major weapon. He’s scoring in a lot of different ways in the BCHL. With a big one timer on the flank. With a heavy wrister in transition. On the backhand as he drives the net. As he moves up to higher levels, he’ll likely be pushed to more of the Tomas Holmstrom role, but this is someone NHL teams will be taking a long look at. (Brock Otten)