Nathan Légaré is currently fifth in scoring in the QMJHL but brings other attributes beyond scoring. A strong two way game, a big NHL-ready body combined with a tireless work ethic will get him long looks from scouts. A McKeen's Honourable Mention in our first draft ranking and a 'B' prospect to watch from NHL Central Scouting.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Skating: Nathan Légaré is an average skater with a positive first two or three strides. Even with only average skating and his size, his mobility still pretty good. He can change directions quickly and his feet are continually moving. He can still work on his 2nd gear, but for now, I do not see this as an issue. Légaré’s skating strides are large and powerful. He has a large base which helps him to be strong on his skates, including in puck protection. He lacks the ability to outskate his opponents but is always moving his feet which helps him win puck races. Grade: 50

Shot: This season, Légaré has discovered that he likes to shoot at goal. And shoot a lot. It is a good thing since he has a very good shot. His wrist shot is accurate and quickly released. His slap shot is hard, and he likes to use it on the power play. However, he could work on the accuracy of this slap shot. He does not need a lot of time and space in the slot to throw a shot on goal. His shot is one of the best aspects of his game. He can shoot on rush entries or with an off-wing one timer slap shot. Grade: 55

Skills: Nathan Légaré will not leave you speechless with one of his skills, but this a player that does everything well, including taking care of the little details. Mostly recognized for scoring goals, he can deliver a beauty pass at any moment. Same thing with his stickhandling, as he can pull a rabbit out his hat sometimes with a surprising dangle, but he usually keeps his game pretty simple. That is what makes him so attractive for a team, as that he can do almost everything well on the ice. He can block a shot on the penalty kill or serve a brilliant pass on a winning goal. He has very good agility for his size.   Grade: 55

Smarts: Above all, Légaré will never totally wow you with his game. But if you are a coach, and you want a player who exerts constant pressure, Légaré is your guy. He has a very good understand of how to pressure players. He is very good on the forecheck with a quick stick and great anticipation of the play. He is extremely smart with his stick and the way he uses his reach and size. We can add his good hockey senses to the mix. He can, at times, force a shot to the net. He is a player with nice vision at both ends of the ice. He can handle himself in defensive tasks or killing a penalty. Grade: 55

Physicality: Légaré is a very strong player. He already has a great NHL frame and size. Already looks comfortable in his body and uses it to his advantage. He plays a smart and hardworking game. He is good in puck protection and he is hard to knock off the puck. Knowing this, I would like to see him go a little harder in the corners. He tends to let others go for him sometimes, while this is an aspect oh his game he dominates. He has the lower-body strength to win puck battles. Légaré throws big hits sometimes.   Grade: 60

Summary: Nathan Légaré is a near-unstoppable forechecker and very competent two-way forward. His ability and willingness to play a variety of roles is a great asset, because he can fulfill all the roles as a forward. His work ethic is second to none and he has the tools to develop his offensive game to a greater extent. Légaré moves around the ice really well, even if he has a bulky stature. He does not have many flaws. He is not a speed demon, but he is a good skater with great balance who uses his powerful strides to chase opposing defenders in pressure. He is not fancy or some sort of elite playmaker, and rarely do you see him trying to do too much with the puck. But his good shot and his vision allow him to position himself well in the offensive zone and make him a threat in the attack. He is a dangerous player on the powerplay as well as one who can adapt as a grinder with offensive instincts. Who doesn’t want a versatile power forward who can skate, score, plays hard with good work ethic and has very good forechecking hockey sense?

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 54.25

Maxence Guenette gets his highest marks for his skating and mobility and hockey smarts in the detailed scouting report from Benoit Belanger below. His offence remains underwhelming but makes good decisions on the ice with a strong first pass and create a breakout or join the rush. A 'C' player to watch from NHL Central Scouting, indicating a mid round pick.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Skating: Maxence Guenette has very good mobility and skating abilities. He moves with ease and fluidity. He is very agile and the ability to make quick changes of direction and lateral movements. He is really hard-to-beat on a 1-on-1 rush against because of his absolutely excellent backward skating. I would like to see him keep his feet moving a little bit more during the game, especially in his own zone. In short, he is an effortless skater who moves really well. Grade: 55

Shot: Guenette could improve this area of his game, particularly on the power side. On the other hand, I really like the control of his wrist shot. His wrister is accurate and deceptive. He releases quickly and effortlessly. He would benefit from using different kinds of shots but he definitely prefers precision to power when he throws the puck to the net. He does not yet have the killer mentality when he shoots the puck to the net. Grade: 45

Skills: When we think of Maxence Guénette, the first thing that comes to mind is not his technical skills. As mentioned, his skating is one strong skill. The wow-factor does not come from his puck skills or his shot, but from the overall quality of his game. He is able to pass the puck really well, in breakouts or in offensive zone possession. He moves the puck really well when he gets the puck at the top of the offensive zone. Well rounded player with mobility and silky smooth skating. Grade: 50

Smarts: A defenseman with good IQ hockey, Maxence Guénette plays a smart game. He plays well defensively, his stick is highly active and poke checks are timed without putting him at risk of getting caught flat footed. Really good gap control in 1-on-1 situations. He makes the proper reads both with and without the puck. He always looks to either join the rush or create a breakout by himself. He is solid in all areas of the ice and anticipates the play very well. He has to develop his offensive zone acumen. He seems to have strong positioning and covers his area without wasted strides or effort. His average offensive instincts hold him back from being a 1st class package. Grade: 55

Physicality: Guénette is not particularly physical. He is not the kind of player who goes for the big hit either. That said, he has an interesting shape and he uses it well. He wins the majority of his physical battles. He is not afraid to block shots when needed. He has shown that he is capable of keeping opponents away from his net in his own territory. He should continue to add mass to his frame in order to handle the rigors of the pro level. Grade: 50

Summary: Maxence Guenette is a right-handed defenseman but is able to play on either the right or left side. He is a well rounded player and a capable two-way defenseman with a whole host of average and above-average tools. He is very good at breaking out from his own zone and he makes good first pass. He has to play with more poise, and add emotion to his game. His lack of goal scoring could hurt him when it will be time to turn pro. That said, Guenette has very good mobility and skating abilities. He plays a calm and smart game in his own end with impressive positioning. He does well in board battles. He already has a solid frame, but could use some bulking up. His opening pass is quick and accurate. He could improve his shot and puck skills. At this point in his development, Guenette will not amaze you with his offensive production. On the other hand, considering that he plays with a weak team, that he has good hockey sense, makes pinpoint accurate passes, has smooth skating and mobility and a willingness to play a physical game when necessary, he is the kind of defenseman who is worth spending time developing. Calmness in all situation, especially defensively.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 52

Currently sitting at #18 on McKeen's initial 2019 NHL Draft ranking, Ryan Wagman describes Trevor Zegras as 'one of the early risers of the 2019 draft class' He explains below with a full scouting report.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Trevor Zegras. Photo by Rena Laverty/USA Hockey

Skating: While teammate and sometimes linemate Jack Hughes skates circles around the offensive zone, Zegras is more of a zigzagging North-South mover. He is very shifty with plus edges. The speed in his feet match that of his hands, allowing him to shoot through the neutral zone on a whim and create scoring chances for his team. Hughes is the more creative skater, allowing the viewer to sit back and appreciate. Zegras is more explosive. When he takes off, he is gone and the burst ends when he reaches his destination. Grade: 65

Shot: A gifted goal scorer who scores through positioning and stickhandling more than through his shot, his wrist shot is strong and accurate enough to be a significant threat from the faceoff dots and in.   Grade: 60

Skills: Zegras has crazy fast hands. He can dangle his way past defenders, or juke and weave through them. His hand-eye coordination is high end. As he gets into prime scoring areas, quick wrists make him a threat to tip or redirect point shots past scrambling goalies. More than just puck play, he is also a gifted playmaker. He moves the puck in the offensive zone with great touch and vision. More than some of the others who have played on the USNTDP first line this year with Hughes, Zegras has shown that he can continue to produce when shifted down to the second line. Grade: 65

Smarts: On the one hand, USNTDP head coach John Wroblewski does not use Zegras on the PK. On the other hand, none of the top line player get much time, other than the occasional mini-shift when there is a faceoff with under 15 seconds of penalty to kill. Nonetheless, Zegras has an acute hockey mind. His anticipation at both ends and ability to read the opposition, both with and without the puck, is very advanced for his age. Couple that with his extreme positional flexibility – in the three times that I have seen him this year, he lined up at each forward spot – and we have the makings of a reliable player.  Grade: 60

Physicality: Let’s be real here. The team that uses a likely first round choice on Zegras is not looking for a denizen of the dirty areas. He has room to grow, but he is rather lean at the moment. He does not play a soft or perimeter game and will withstand punishment if he has to, but all in the name of generating offense chances. Grade: 50

Summary: Trevor Zegras’ hometown of Bedford, New York, close by the Connecticut border, is known for the plethora of stars who call, or called it home. Ryan Reynolds, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Martha Stewart, Bruce Willis, Brendan Fraser, Bea Arthur, Chevy Chase, Blake Lively, Rooney Mara, and many more. While not as prominent in terms of bred athletes, Zegras has the makings of a future star on the ice. He plays with fantastic pace and has the ability to drop jaws with a rush from blueline to blueline. One of four current USNTDP members with a BU commitment, his versatility and skill will allow him to find a quick home in the Terriers’ top six. There are as many as five current USNTDP forwards with legitimate first round aspirations. Of course, Jack Hughes is the first among that group and will remain in the pole position barring a career altering injury. The season is still young, but Zegras may have to be considered the current front runner to be next off the board. He can play with other highly skilled players, or he can drive the offense on his own. He has emerged as a player to watch and one of the early risers of the 2019 draft class.

Overall Future Projection (OFP) = 61.25

Ryan Wagman describes Russian 2019 NHL Draft eligible winger Validslav Firstov as a 'boom or bust' type of prospect. He explains further in a full scouting report below. A 'C' level prospect to watch on Central Scouting's initial list of players to watch indicating a mid to late round pick.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Valdislav Firstov. Photo by Hickling Images.

Skating: Firstov is a fine skater. He is not a speed demon, but he moves well enough to function as the F1 on the forecheck. He can get himself from a standstill into scoring position in a flash as his first few steps are pretty good. His strong edge work is also apparent when he demonstrates tight turning ability. Solid balance aids in his ability to maintain possession of the puck in coverage. Grade: 55

Shot: Not a sniper, but he can get the puck up in a hurry and has the ability to beat the goalie from in tight or from a sharp angle. Scoring ability – see his numbers thus far – is more a function of an ability to place the puck than pure shooting talent. That said, he does play on the off-wing on the power play to put him in position to utilize a one-timer. He should be able to score his share at the next level but goal scoring is not as likely to drive his future value as the following attribute. Grade: 55

Skills: Here is where Firstov shows he can separate himself from the puck. This is the case when he is trying to maintain possession of the puck under duress in the offensive zone. He can extend possessions more than most at this level. He has advanced passing skills and has a knack for putting his linemates in prime scoring position on the regular. He seems as if his eyes light up when the puck comes near. He presses harder when on the puck than off and as his numbers attest, he can make something good of it.  Grade: 60

Smarts: Here is where Firstov needs the most improvement in his overall game. For as much as his eyes get wide near the puck, he seems to fall into a stupor away from it. He spends a large percentage of is shifts coasting on the perimeter on both zones, just waiting for his linemates to regain possession of the puck. He is also somewhat prone to blindly firing the puck into open space, turning it over needlessly. For as much talent as he has, his head is simply not in the game for a full 60 minutes. Grade: 45

Physicality: Not so much. He is lean now with room to grow in size and strength. But more than anything to do with his frame, Firstov is not one to engage with opponents on the physical level. To his credit, he saves his strength for keeping the puck when under attack. So while I am not optimistic, he is not a complete lost cause.  Grade: 45

Summary: The Yaroslavl native, in his first season playing in North America is showing well. Currently second in Black Hawks’ scoring behind second time eligible Matej Blumel, who happens to be on his line. This creates some doubt about which skilled European import is really driving the bus here. Both wingers have a good chance of being drafted this year, but the question is unlikely to be answered anytime soon, as Firstov recently committed to play with Connecticut next season, alongside Blumel. The 17-year-old Russian looks like a boom or bust prospect. He certainly can do fun things with the puck, but until he shows more consistency shift to shift and even within a given shift, there is the legitimate chance that he never fully reaches his potential.

Overall Future Projection (OFP) = 53.75

Every fall for the past sixteen years leading up to the international U20 tournaments and the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) hosts a series of six games between the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s top major juniors and the top major juniors playing in the CHL. These games take place across Canada with two games being played in each of the CHL’s three leagues in six different team centers each year. Team Russia takes advantage of Russian players already in Canada playing for CHL teams by rostering them for games during this series.

The first set of games this year took place against the Western Hockey League (WHL) in Kamloops at the Sandman Centre home of the Kamloops Blazers, with the second game being held at the Langley Events Centre home of the Vancouver Giants. The WHL split the game wins with Russia leaving the series tied at one win apiece before coming here to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The first of the two OHL games was played Thursday November 8^th at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, home to the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. A few of the players of note rostered with team OHL for the first game were Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe, Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Evan Bouchard, and Montreal Canadians’ prospect Nick Suzuki. Team Russia’s OHL rostered players included; Edmonton Oilers’ prospects Kirill Maksimov and Dmitri Samorukov of the Niagara IceDogs and Guelph Storm respectively; Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alexey Lipanov of the Kitchener Rangers and Alexey Toropchenko the St. Louis Blues prospect also from the Guelph Storm, all of whom had the chance to join their countrymen to play against their teammates on the OHL team.

Isaac Ratcliffe of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL got off to a quick start during the first game in Sarnia with Isaac Ratcliffe scoring minutes into the first period off a high slot pass from Arizona Coyotes’ prospect Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Ratclliffe’s goal resulted from one of only four shots in the first period, the shot itself was a bullet going high glove. Team Russia seemed a little shaky at the start, but they were most likely just trying to find their legs again after their previous two games in Western Canada. Both teams took some time to gain line familiarity and worked on finding chemistry throughout the first period.

A lot came out of the first period as three out of the four goals of the game were scored in the first. The second and game winning goal for Team OHL came at the end of the period in the form of a penalty shot. A long stretch pass came from the Canadian blueline on a change to forward Mackenzie Entwistle set him off on a break away. Having full possession of the puck with a good scoring chance the right call was made on the Russian defender Saveliy Olshansky who attempted to slow him down, resulting in Entwistle getting a penalty shot. The right shot Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect made no mistake as he whistled the puck past the blocker of the Russian goaltender, Daniil Tarasov, a Columbus prospect, placing it high in the top left corner.

Stepan Starkov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

The last goal to come in the first period was scored by team Russia. The goal came from an outside drive deep into Canada’s zone by KHL Sochi centre Stepan Starkov who made a clever backdoor pass back to Boston Bruins’ prospect and Ufa KHL centre Pavel Shen as he waited, open in the slot, to net the one-timer. That goal came with 43 seconds left in the opening period.

The second period had more flow as players on both teams became more familiar with each other and more comfortable with their lines. Yet to be really tested were the special teams as there was only one penalty to team Russia in the first period which was successfully killed off by the Russians as Canada’s power play looked to get a little sharper. The second period saw team Russia getting a little more frustrated as they ended up in the box three times with Toropchenko leading the way with four minutes. Team Canada had a roughing minor handed out to Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads.

Barrett Hayton of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL worked well on circulating and moving the puck on the power play but failed to net one as Team Russia successfully shut down the Canadian powerplay. Team Russia’s frustration came after Barrett Hayton netted a highlight reel goal on a break with assists from San Jose Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm and Owen Sound’s Brady Lyle. Hayton put his puck handling ability on show as he split the two Russian defenders and slipped through the middle leaving him with few options but to deke to avoid the goaltender’s poke check. Hayton’s goal came with half the game remaining but was enough to hold off the Russian team for another thirty minutes.

The rest of the game was played out in good form with both teams looking to up their offensive chances and shots on net. Although Team Russia excelled at killing penalties and quick breakouts, their efforts were shut down by the physicality and aggressive play of the Canadian defence. The third period ended with zero goals being scored and only six minutes in penalties. Evan Bouchard lived up to the hype about him as he played a very solid game and proved why he was drafted 10^th overall in 2018. He showed off his patience with the puck, ability to win battles along the boards and backchecked well on a Russian breakaway. Despite Team OHL outshooting Team Russia 23 to 19, Team OHL had the opportunity to further their lead but the Russian goaltender Daniil Tarasov of the Supreme Hockey League’s (VHL) Neftekamsk managed to come up with some good saves as the Canadians found holes in the Russian defence. Team OHL came out on top of game one with a final score of 3 – 1 but the next game didn’t not go as planned for the Ontario Hockey League Team as they fell to the Russian team by a larger margin than the Russians did in their previous meeting.

The second game of the two game Ontario series was played on November 12 and was won by Team Russia with Russia scoring four goals and a zero response from the Ontario team, a result which left the majority of the fans in the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ontario surprised. Team Russia outshot Team OHL 28 to 23 with the Russians shutting the OHL offence down almost completely in the third period, limiting them to only five shots on goal. The star of the game for Team Russia was their goalie Pyotr Kochetkov who stopped all shots, proving that both of Team Russia’s goaltenders were strong.

Game two saw few roster changes other than the addition of four hometown Oshawa Generals’ players to the lineup; Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Giovanni Vallati was rostered for both games, Florida Panthers’ prospect Serron Noel, undrafted Austen Keating and Boston Bruins’ prospect Jack Studnicka, who wore the ‘C’ for Team OHL, were all new additions to the lineup. Ryan Merkley, Giovanni Vallati, Liam Foudy, Barrett Hayton, MacKenzie Entwistle, Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod were all dressed for both games.

Alexander Romanov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Game two got off to a quick start for Team Russia as they managed to score 57 seconds in giving them an early lead. Team Russia started with a lot more energy than they had in the previous game, and they were more fired up with a physical presence from the get go. The first period saw ten minutes in penalties in total and two goals from the Russians with one from Montreal prospect Alexander Romanov and the other from Pavel Shen again. Team OHL showed frustration with their lack of productivity and quality chances but were able to keep their penalties to a minimum while making good use of screens in front of the net as they tried to get shots off. MacKenzie Entwistle and Kevin Bahl both picked up penalties for Team OHL while the aforementioned Shen and Veniamin Baranov each picked up penalties for Team Russia. Although Team OHL was down two goals heading into the second period they did not lose their morale playing the second frame and stayed focused and ready to compete with the energized Russians.

The second period was a very entertaining and well played period. Although both teams played a fairly clean game despite a minor penalty given to Team Russia, they were also both kept off the scoreboard. The action bounced back and forth and Team OHL players Studnicka and Ottawa Senators pick Alex Formenton proceeded to stand out for their puck possession skills by making solid passes and getting to the net on rushes. The shots were almost even with the Russians finishing just behind the Canadians in the second as the MVP of the game for Team Russia, goalie Kochetkov put on a show in net turning away all ten good quality chances Team OHL had and flashing the glove multiple times. By the end of the period the OHL players were feeling the pressure of being blanked for another twenty minutes and Team Russia was feeling more confident with their lead.

The end of Team Russia’s Ontario Hockey League stint finished on a high note with the Russians effectively shutting Team OHL down, reducing them to a low five shots on net in the third period and a final score of 4 - 0. Team Russia scored twice as Alexander Yaremchuk and Kirill Slepets both found the back of the net later on in the period to add a softer cushion to their lead. Tempers started to flare a little as Kevin Bahl and Bulat Shafigullin both had roughing penalties and Ryan Merkley ended up with a misconduct penalty. Through all the commotion and short-handed play, Hunter Jones remained calm and collected in his net for Team OHL keeping them in the game as their offence struggled to get the puck down the ice. The period went by slowly for fans who had come to support Team OHL but for the small contingent of Russian fans bearing flags and hats the cheering for their team continued throughout the game and well after the buzzer sounded.

As a final note, the Russian team flew out to Quebec the day following the second game against the OHL for the final two games of the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Team Russia met the best of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) first on November 13^th in Sherbrooke and played their second game in Drummondville on November 15^th. Four Russian players playing in the QMJHL; Ivan Chekhovich playing for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, drafted by the San Jose Sharks; Alexander Khovanov playing for the Moncton Wildcats, drafted by the Minnesota Wild; Pavel Koltygin playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, drafted by the Nashville Predators and Dmitry Zavgorodniy playing for the Rimouski Oceanic, drafted by the Calgary Flames all joined Team Russia for both games. Russia won both games against the QMJHL (the second game in overtime) to take the six-game series 4 – 2. The fact that Team Russia flew across Canada, played six games in six different cities in ten days against teams made up of different players and still won the series is a possible testament to the strength and skill of Team Russia and the fact that they should not be underestimated in the upcoming World Junior Championship once final team selections are made.

Overall, the play of both teams in the Ontario two-game series was strong and there was a lot of talent showcased on the ice for both Russia and the OHL. Both teams had a few undrafted players to be considered for the 2019 NHL Draft. The 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series marked the start of development camps and tournaments leading up to the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship to be held jointly in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. With that being said, it will be interesting to see the finished product of Team Canada, once the CHL selection process is complete, and Team Russia, come December 26^th when the puck drops to mark the start of the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Ryan Wagman provides a detailed scouting report on Case McCarthy giving him his highest marks in hockey smarts and physicality. Committed to Boston University next season Wagman sees an NHL Future as a second pairing defender when his college career is done.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

USA U17 vs Minnesota Wilderness

Skating: By no means a dynamic skater, McCarthy is still above average on his feet. He can get deep into the offensive zone without fear of being caught out. His feet also work fine in tracking back. They allow him to keep tight gaps on opponents, and to get into position to make occasionally devastating open ice hits. Good balance and lower body strength also assist in board battles. Grade: 55

Shot: In all honesty, McCarthy is not much of a shooter. He can stand at the point at fire in a decent enough slapshot, but not of the variety that will score unaided by a timely deflection or unscreened. It gets the puck from high to low. He will generally fire off one or two per game but nothing that is especially dangerous for the goalie. Don’t expect him to spend too much time playing with the man advantage, at this level (sometimes), in college (rarely), or the pros (accidentally). Grade: 50

Skills: Another reason why McCarthy is unlikely to play in a top pairing role at the highest level, or be relied on too much for offensive production. He can make a solid first pass in his own zone. In fact, he is at his best when keeping the game simple, making short passes to teammates, or defensive partners who have ore legroom. He can exhibit some tunnel vision when trying for a deeper range exit pass.  Grade: 50

Smarts: If you were underwhelmed by what McCarthy brings to the table based on the above three attributes, fear not, because he will begin to make up for it here. A regular penalty killer with the USNTDP, he is very strong in neutral zone and defensive zone coverage. He has the sense and calmness to avoid biting on dangles and keeps tight to opponents. Uses his stick masterfully in the defensive two-thirds of the ice, making life very difficult for opponents who try to attack him directly. His positioning and mobility also serve to help him avoid taking any unnecessary penalties.  Grade: 60

Physicality: The smarts are impressive if not always eye-catching. The physicality is fun. McCarthy is a big hitter. He will take his man into the boards and walk away with the puck. He can time up a big open ice hit when the moment calls for it. In a board battle, his strength helps him win well more often than not. He simply has the ability to neutralize his peers. When the shoe is on the other foot, he can still do what he seeks to. McCarthy has no problem in taking a hit without flinching to make a play.  Grade: 60

Summary: The USNTDP has player types that they try to find fits for. Last year, the person in McCarthy’s role was Ty Emberson. The year before it was Tyler Inamoto. Case McCarthy is more Emberson than Inamoto and may have a higher upside than either. The Buffalo-land native is committed to attend Boston University next season, which may have up to five returning drafted defenders in the mix (although I expect Dante Fabbro, at least, to move on to the pro ranks), giving him timely to slowly acclimate to the collegiate game and offer him protection from over-exposure. McCarthy profiles as a second pairing defender at the highest level, someone who can be counted on to play in a shut-down role and help out in the transition game, if not be a reliable offensive contributor. He can be overshadowed by some of his flashier teammates, but he should not be overlooked. McCarthy has a pro future in store.

Overall Future Projection (OFP) = 55.75

Antti Tuomisto caught Marco Bombino's attention at a tournament in Vassa which he wrote about earlier this season. You can read it here - Finland U20 Tournament - A report from Vaasa. Bombino believes he could go as high as the second or third round and explains below in a detailed scouting report.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Skating: Tuomisto possesses respectable mobility in all directions for a defenseman of his size. He shows fairly nimble footwork and good agility at the point, moving laterally to create space in the offensive zone. He has a powerful stride but needs to gain more explosiveness to improve the quickness in his first few strides. Grade: 50

Shot: The right-shot defenseman has a cannon of a point shot. He preferably uses his powerful slap shot which has a heavy release on it, as well as the velocity and accuracy necessary to cause quite a bit of trouble for goalies. He also has a decent wrist shot with good accuracy but it is the slap shot that makes him a dangerous shooter. Though he only has four goals on the season, there is certainly potential for many more. Grade: 55

Skills: He has surprised me with his coordination with the puck. Tuomisto has good stick skills and smooth hands, he can deke opponents in his own end when starting the attack the other way. Much more of a puck mover than a puck rusher, he gives hard and accurate long passes out of the zone which arrive on the tape. Defensively, he uses his long reach well to disrupt the puck carrier. Grade: 55

Smarts: Tuomisto has a strong understanding of the game. He sees the ice extremely well. He plays with his head up and already passes the puck like a pro. Has great composure with the puck when starting the breakout. Defensively, there is more work to be done. He could work on his positioning in the neutral zone. He can occasionally get caught puck watching in the defensive zone. Flaws aside, I like his ability to force opponents to the perimeter by actively using his long reach. He needs to make some little adjustments to his defensive game before he moves up to the pro level. However, Tuomisto's offensive vision is one of his assets. Grade: 60

Physicality: A big-bodied blueliner with an imposing presence on the ice, Tuomisto does not shy away from playing physically in front of the net or along the boards. He could become even tougher to play against, however he does have a bit of an edge and nastiness in his game. He could be an intimidating force if he fully learns to use his size to his advantage. Grade: 55

Summary: Ässät defenseman Antti Tuomisto has made a meteoric rise into one of the top draft eligible prospects playing in the Finnish U20 league. He caught my eye at the tournament in Vaasa where he logged lots of ice-time and has since excelled with the Finnish U18 national team. Tuomisto has great hockey sense and manages the puck very well. He has an intriguing offensive skill set, along with good skating ability and physical game. If he keeps developing rapidly over the course of the remainder of the season, I would not be surprised if he goes as high as in the second or third round of the draft. Tuomisto has the potential to be a middle-pairing NHL defenseman, one who can contribute offensively with his puck movement and shot, and more than hold his own in the defensive end.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 55.25

November is always a key month in pro hockey. As the leaves are falling and eggnog hits the shelves, it is in this month that you begin to see which teams are for real, with the contenders starting to separate themselves from the pretenders.

Additionally, you see the solidification of prospects with hot starts. Around this time in the schedule, players with hot starts either cool down or continue their torrid pace for the rest of the season, and we see -- along with the teams -- which prospects are ahead of the developmental course.

Such is the case in the AHL's Pacific Division, where the seven teams are starting to experience some drop-off in the standings and their top prospects are either flourishing or flunking. Though sample sizes are smaller in a division wherein they play eight fewer games than the rest of the AHL, early conclusions can be made on some things.

Let's take a look at how some notable prospects are doing with their Pacific Division teams.

San Jose Barracuda

A lack of size was supposed to be a death sentence for Jayden Halbgewachs, but the winger has made it into a strong suit and something he incorporates into an already dynamic game. He uses his small frame to squeeze past defenders along the wall, which helps an already formidable puck-protection game.

Ranked 12th in the McKeen's yearbook preseason ranking of the San Jose system, the 21-year-old has been a key asset for the Barracuda on the team's top line and first power play unit. His six goals and six assists in 18 games are good for second on the team in point scoring, and he's doing it with his blazing wrist shot and great positioning away from the puck. Not bad for an undrafted free agent signing.

Halbgewachs' linemate with the Barracuda, center Maxim Letunov, has been just as good to this point. The Russian has comfortably played all three forward positions in the top-six, but has settled into centering a line with Halbgewachs on the wing.

Letunov is playing both sides of special teams and has taken his defensive game to another level this season, becoming a two-way guy. The 10th-ranked prospect in the S.J. system, Letunov has superb vision, strong physical play, and a heavy release, which he has used to his advantage in scoring 11 points (5G-6A) in the first 19 games. The former second-rounder has been considered for a recall to the Sharks.

Tucson Roadrunners

Maybe the biggest story in the organization as of recent times is the trade that sent away Tucson's leading scorer from last year, Dylan Strome. However, among those who still call the Coyotes’ organization home, Conor Garland is filling in quite nicely. A force on offense at all times, Garland has finally learned how to play with a style that fits his slight body (5-8", 165 lbs).

Rather than playing with dump-ins and trying to let his wheels do everything for him, the former fifth-rounder is carrying the puck into the zone and making things happen off the rush more often than last season. A power play weapon on account of his surprisingly heavy shot, the 22-year-old has become more versatile on offense through his improved decision-making.

The 18th-ranked prospect in the yearbook ranking of the Arizona prospect system, Garland was twice the leading scorer in the CHL but that offensive prowess had not yet translated to the pro ranks. This year, he leads the Roadrunners with 19 points (8G-11A) through 18 games, and it was announced in early December that he would be joining the Coyotes via recall.

Hudson Fasching (16th) is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance as a prospect, with 13 points (6G-7A) in 19 games, while Canadian World Junior Classic hero Tyler Steenbergen has struggled some, with a goal and six assists to his name in 15 pro games.

Colorado Eagles

We cannot say enough about Martin Kaut. Though it was announced he will soon depart from the Eagles and join the Czech Republic's World Junior Classic selection roster, Kaut (4th in Avalanche prospect system) has performed unbelievably well as a 19-year-old in the second-best professional league in the world. Drafted 16th overall in June's NHL Draft, he has four goals and seven assists through the first 21 games of his pro career.

His smarts have translated flawlessly from overseas to Colorado, as he has been a top-six setup man since the outset of the season. He doesn't have superior speed, but he uses his powerful strides to get up to speed well and his smarts to facilitate like a seasoned veteran. It is such a rare thing to have a 19-year-old who can take over a game any time they take the ice, and Kaut is that.

Someone with a far different road is Eagles forward A.J. Greer, whose 19 points in 18 games (8G-11A) give him a career-high points pace early on. Greer was a heralded prospect in the system when Colorado took him at 35th overall in 2015, but inconsistencies plauged his development until now.

Greer is using his legs to create havoc in the offensive zone by hustling for loose pucks, beating defenders to dangerous spots in one-on-one situations, and setting the pace for his line.

Stockton Heat

TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 23: Stockton Heat defenseman Oliver Kylington (4) controls the puck during a hockey game between the Stockton Heat and Tucson Roadrunners on December 23, 2017, at Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, AZ. Stockton Heat defeats Tucson Roadrunners 2-1. (Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire)

Oliver Kylington came into the 2018-19 season with a lot to prove, and his results through November are promising. The 2015 second-rounder has had no problem creating offense for the Heat in all situations, mostly from a more assertive mindset that incentivizes carry-ins and clean zone exits.

Kylington (10th) has earned a recall to Calgary amid injuries on their blueline by virtue of his seven goals and seven assists in 18 AHL games this season. Kylington has gone scoreless in four NHL games, but has played effectively in a small role.

Two formerly heralded prospects are experiencing re-births as decent, potentially NHL-caliber pupils: 2013 first-rounders Kerby Rychel (18th) and Curtis Lazar (ineligible). As two of the Heat's three leading scorers, Rychel and Lazar have combined for 18 goals, 18 assists, and 36 points in 23 games. The two play somewhat similiar styles and have meshed well together as a line in Stockton's top six.

Two of the most noteworthy and promising goaltending prospects in the game, Jon Gillies (5th) and Tyler Parsons (8th), have struggled mightily this season. Each netminder has a goals against average above four, while relatively unheralded 21-year-old Nick Schnieder has stolen the crease away. Gillies and Parsons are a combined 5-9-1 this season.

Ontario Reign

VANCOUVER, BC - NOVEMBER 27: Los Angeles Kings Goalie Cal Petersen (40) makes a save during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on November 27, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Los Angeles won 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

If you follow NCAA hockey, this will not be breaking news to you, but Sheldon Rempal can play. As Ontario's leading scorer despite having missed a good chunk of the season to an NHL stint, Rempal has eight goals and 12 assists in just 14 games early on. The Calgary native was named AHL Rookie of the Month for November for his efforts.

Rempal (12th) plays with a physical edge for an undersized forward, taking defenders one-on-one against the boards and protecting the puck masterfully in the open ice. His wrist shot is a solid one and a producer of several of his goals, but he is more of a passer, and has exhibited his skillful visionary assets this season.

Goaltender Cal Petersen's AHL success led to an NHL recall, where the 24-year-old Notre Dame product has played incredibly thus far. In nine games for the last-place Los Angeles Kings, Petersen (6th) has been as stable as any goalie in their system, going 4-4-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .929 SV%.

Bakersfield Condors

EDMONTON, AB - SEPTEMBER 7: Tyler Benson #49 of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) 

To the surprise of nobody, left winger Tyler Benson is a dangerous player at full health. Though injuries have derailed his career up to this point, the former second-rounder is seemingly at 100% through the first two months of the season and has played accordingly with the Condors.

Benson's 16 points (3G-13A-16P) lead Bakersfield in scoring, as his deft puck skills and wonderful hands are setting up linemates routinely. He has helped form a lethal scoring line with fellow top prospects Cooper Marody and Kailer Yamamoto, with Benson (4th) being the main facilitator and puck carrier of the three.

Defenseman Caleb Jones is coming into his own. He has the raw skating speed and vision to make anything happen, but his decision-making held him back last season, as he was occasionally a healthy scratch despite being one of the team's most interesting players. Jones (14th) has a high ceiling and one that has come further to fruition with the two goals and 10 assists he boasts.

He is also playing the right side despite being a left-handed shooter, which helps tremendously in Edmonton's evaluation of the player.

San Diego Gulls

With some of the most creative and flashy prospects in the AHL, the Gulls should be better than their early-season results indicate, but at the very least, the Ducks' top prospects are playing well. Troy Terry's first pro season has gotten off to a picture-perfect beginning, as the American World Junior legend leads the team in points with 17 (8G-9A) through 15 games.

Terry (3rd) is looking to be an absolute steal for a fifth-round pick, as his phenomenal puck-handling tactics and sneaky but lethal wrist-shooting technique have been on full display. Not only is he a creative player, but he is a confident player, and one who is willing to try crazy stuff at all times.

Sam Steel (1st) has not been as effective, but also has a far different role. Though Steel's game is best when the center has the room to skate and set his teammates up, he has been deployed mostly as a defensive center, absorbing many D-zone draws. However, the 20-year-old has scored eight points (4G-4A) in 11 games after making the Ducks roster out of training camp and later being sent down.

Nonetheless, Anaheim has an aging center core and Steel is looking primed to take the spot of a top-sixer eventually. Considering the Ducks acquired the draft pick that nabbed Steel in exchange for the redundant Frederik Andersen two years ago, it has already become a win for Anaheim.

Bowen Byram ranked number nine on McKeen's initial draft ranking and the second defender on the board for the 2019 NHL Draft after Philip Broberg. A natural power play QB he is currently tied for the most goals by a defenseman in the Western Hockey League. Kevin Olexson provides a detailed scouting report below.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Bowen Byram. Photo by Chris Relke/Vancouver Giants.

Skating - Byram is an excellent skater who is quick, and moves effortlessly all over the ice. He is really smooth on his feet, has excellent mobility, and loves to jump in to the play and lead the rush. His skating is one of his strongest assets, and he knows how to use it to his benefit. He is always moving his feet, can skate with anyone stride by stride, and can react and adjust to any situation. He skates in an upright position, shifts gears very rapidly and picks up speed quickly with strong powerful strides. He has great agility, tremendous acceleration, and superb top end speed in every direction he moves. He makes it look so easy,  and shifts to high speed before you even realize that he is in stride. He has excellent edge work, and his footwork is fantastic. Byram can walk the line steadily and maneuver through traffic and around opponents confidently and with ease. He moves his feet extremely fast, using quick rapid steps to change direction, position or angle, and can pivot instantly on a dime. He uses his first rate skating ability and speed to control the play, lead a quick transition game, rush the puck up the ice, escape and elude opponents, close gaps, and get out of any bad situations or mistakes that he may make. He is very shifty and hard to hit as well, although he does like to engage in the physical part of the game.   Grade: 70

Shot - Byram likes to have the puck on his stick and likes to shoot the puck. On most nights he is amongst the leaders with shots on goal for his club, and is very confident firing the puck on net. He has really good wrist shot, that has some snap to it, and that he can find openings and get on net regularly. He has a hard, heavy, and accurate slap shot that is very steady and effective. He is able to find lanes, get shots through traffic to the net with regularity whether it would a head quick shot, or a nice feathered eye seeing shot looking for a rebound or deflection.   Grade: 60

Skills - Byram is an extremely high skilled player that does everything well and makes it look easy. He is a very gifted and proficient passer who can control the game by moving the puck quickly and accurately. He is skilled enough to be able to move the puck in so many different ways, whether it is short crisp passes, long stretch passes, flip passes, or bank passes to open up a quick transition game and set up teammates for good scoring opportunities. He has great puck control and strong stick handling skills. He is able to control the puck really easily, as it seems to feel comfortable on the blade of his stick. He has great offensive abilities and skills, and smooth masterful hands to control the puck and make difficult plays look easy. Being a great passer, Byram can run the power play confidently and with authority. He protects the puck extremely well, can dangle along the blue line, stickhandle and sift his way through high traffic areas to put himself in the slot as he is able and willing to drive the net and create good scoring chances. He is able to control and move the puck at high speeds, make smart plays with the puck, and control the tempo and pace of the game with his great vision and skills.   Grade: 65

Smarts - Byram is an extremely smart player who understands the game very well and his role in it. He knows how to play to his strengths, and is smart enough to do so. He has strong hockey sense, plays strong in all three zones and is a very reliable in the defensive zone. He thinks the game well, is able to read and react quickly to what is happening on the ice, and can be counted on to make safe plays. He plays with poise and confidence, uses solid positioning and gap control, and his 1-on-1 defending is rock solid. He has a very active stick, using it wisely to block passing lanes, deflect shots, poke check, or strip the puck and create a takeaway that he quickly transitions up ice. He also uses his quick feet and good body position to close gaps and take away lanes. Grade: 65

Physicality - Byram enjoys playing a physical game, and does not shy away from it. He likes to play aggressively and make the physical element of his game known. He is strong on the puck, will engage in physical battles along the boards, and uses strong body positioning to hold off opponents. Byram likes to lay out solid body checks, and will step up and make the big hit. He likes to stand up at his blue line and make contact with attackers, and is willing to drop the gloves as he plays with intensity.     Grade: 55

Summary - Bowen Byram is an exceptionally talented and highly skilled defender. Byram is indeed a pleasure to watch, as he makes things look so easy and effortless out there. He is a fast moving smooth footed skater, with great puck skills and smarts. He is everything that he has been billed to be, and if not the top defensemen in this year’s draft, definitely not far off. A confident player with great leadership qualities, who can control a game in various ways and seems to do so many things right. Byram will most certainly continue to evolve his game through the higher ranks and land himself a definite top four pairing, and more than likely a top two defender for most teams. He plays a solid two-way game, although he seems to stand out more on the offensive side of things. A lot of his defensive play gets overlooked, but this prospect can get it done at both ends of the ice. Usually when a defensemen excels in the offensive zone, there tends to be balance as there will be some give in the defensive zone. Byram has the smarts, speed and skills to make up for most of his mistakes. A natural power play QB and leader, who can play in all situations and log a lot of minutes. Byram has good size, and could develop more on the physical side of his game, as he could be a little more assertive ,especially around his own net, but that should come as he grows and adds to his stature. He is very poised and collected on the ice, makes good decisions with the puck, and loves to jump into the play or lead the rush.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 64

Kyle Topping went undrafted in 2018 and came out of the gate this season with something to prove and now leads his team in scoring with 35 points in 31 games. Kevin Olexson feels he is making an early case to hear his name in the middle rounds in 2019. He explains in a detailed report.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

KELOWNA, CANADA - OCTOBER 5: Kyle Topping #24 of the Kelowna Rockets skates against the Victoria Royals on October 5, 2018 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)

Skating - Topping is a smooth skater who works his way around the ice nicely. He works well on his edges, and takes strong strides. He isn’t flashy, but he does have good speed and stays involved with the play. Topping is strong on his skates and gets around the ice fluently. He keeps a low stance, and his feet close together when maneuvering. He uses strong strides to pick up speed quickly, hold off opponents, and get to loose pucks. He keeps a wide stance, is really smooth on his skates, and usually glides into the play, making it look easy and effortless. He can make sharp, sudden stops, and shift directions quickly to open up ice and opportunities. Topping can surprise you with his speed and always seems to sneak in to the right areas. Grade: 50

Shot - Although Topping is a nice distributor of the puck, he also has a pretty good shot, and a quick trigger to accompany it. He keeps his stick on the ice, and is always ready to shoot. He gets the puck off really quick, and is accurate with getting the puck on net. He has a hard wrist shot that he can place where he likes, and has a solid snap shot that he likes to keep low. He has a good release in the slot as the puck does not spend much time on his stick before he puts it on net. He can find the puck through traffic, make a move or two, turn and get a good shot on goal. Topping is also selective with his shot opportunities, as he will take quality shots when available.  Grade: 55

Skills - Topping has very good skills as he has displayed throughout his career, where he has put up impressive numbers in the junior leagues. He has good hands and puck skills, and nice hand eye coordination. He controls the puck well, and distributes and moves it nicely to teammates. He likes to have the puck on his stick, and has soft, smooth hands to control the play. He is a very good passer, and is extremely accurate when moving the puck to his teammates. He can carry the puck up ice, stickhandle, and dipsy doodle with ease. He is great at feathering passes, or sending hard crisp passes to his line mates, tape to tape to create good scoring chances. He is strong in the faceoff circle, and has good puck control skills.  Grade: 55

Smarts - Topping is a smart two-way player that plays reliable and consistent at both ends of the ice. He is always involved in the play, and knows where to go to be effective. He has good positioning in the offensive end of the ice and knows how to slide into the slot get himself open for good opportunities. He back checks hard in his own zone, and has good coverage on his opponents back in the defensive zone.  He is good at taking away space and angles, and is generally in front of the nets at both ends of the ice. He keeps his head up and can read the plays fairly well, being able to react and be effective at both ends of the rink. Topping plays in all types of situations for his team, and is comfortable and responsible when killing penalties and playing against other teams top players. He is also smart enough to adapt his game to complement his line mates and support their play. Grade: 55

Physicality - Topping has good size, and has the ability to play a more physical style game. He does not go out of his way to be physical, and is not overly assertive, as that does not seem to be the strongpoint of his game. He can, however, play the man well, and both make and take checks, and battle for position in front of the net and along the boards. He is strong, generates a lot of power, and can protect the puck well and hold off defenders as he drives to the net. Grade: 50

Summary - After going undrafted in last year’s draft, Kyle Topping has come back with something to prove. Topping has relished in a larger role with the Rockets this season, as he leads the team offensively and has been much more confident in his play. He is displaying his skill, and showing that last season was no fluke, and that he does not need to be surrounded with proven talents to showcase his skills and abilities. Topping is solid two-way player that can be relied on to play in all situations. He has a great work ethic and has worked extremely hard to develop and improve his overall game. He has good offensive capabilities, and has become a responsible back checker and defensive forward as well. He plays a really good 200 ft game, and without all of the flash, he does all of the little things right. He is a smart player that can play in all situations and read plays and can adapt without any trouble. Topping has worked hard to develop his skills, and hone his game. He will continue to develop and improve, and should be a solid middle six forward moving up. Topping plays a very consistent game, and leads his team on a nightly basis. He always quietly makes things happen and plays a solid game. This year Topping should hear his name called at the draft, and should be a comfortable mid round pick.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 53.5

Although there are some exceptions – and this article will touch on a few – the majority of top prospects in the current age of hockey tend to go straight from junior/collegiate/European hockey and into the NHL.

Barring lockout situations, players who make big rookie waves who spent time in the AHL before their NHL debuts are few and far between. To that point, the last Calder Trophy winner who spent time in the AHL in their rookie year – or before – was 2009 recipient Steve Mason. He spent a whopping three games with the Syracuse Crunch. He was rehabbing in the AHL actually, after missing the first month of that season to injury, before the Blue Jackets had a need in the NHL roster. He finally got back to the AHL last year, on his way (seemingly) out of the league.

We have to go back to 2004 and Andrew Raycroft to get a Calder Trophy winner with significant time in the AHL under his belt. He spent the majority of two full seasons in the AHL before making his NHL mark.

That cold streak will continue this year, as even the best AHL callups are extremely unlikely to top the likes of Elias Pettersen, Rasmus Dahlin, Brady Tkachuk, and the rest of this year’s stacked rookie class.

That said, each NHL team has a player or two or more down on the farm who is ready and positioned to fill in some minutes for the parent club if and when the need arises. This article will look at one player from each AHL West team that looks to be ready for the opportunity.

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)

High scoring winger Cooper Marody is currently up with the Oilers, angling to get on the score sheet for the first time, the Condors’ highest scoring defender, Caleb Jones, looks to be ready for his NHL debut. Jones struggled in his first AHL campaign last year, at both ends of the ice. This year, he has been a two-way contributor and he should be the first candidate for a promotion to the NHL when the Oilers need blueline fortification for the third pairing.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Keegan Kolesar

Czech winger Tomas Hyka has the best combination of skill and readiness for the NHL, he has already played 17 games with the Golden Knights. So that is a boring answer. First year AHLer Erik Brannstrom is by far the most talented player on the Wolves and promises to have the brightest future among their second squad, but he is still a teenager and would be best served by more seasoning on the farm. If not a full season, at least another couple of months. So, let me give a shout out to big rangy winger Keegan Kolesar. He is not the most dynamic talent, but he has enough in his hands to contribute on a fourth line. If and when Ryan Reaves goes too far as a banger, Kolear can step in, deliver some hits, and has the juice to threaten double digit goals in a full NHL season at his peak.

Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

Long-term, the only reasonable answer here is Martin Kaut. But, like Brannstrom above, he is a teenager and has yet to blow the doors off the AHL. He has enough talent that the Avalanche would be wiser to let him start to dominate in the AHL before he makes the move. Netminder Pavel Francouz has been solid as a North American debutant, but he is already 28 years old and thus not exactly a prospect. So, we will go with third year pro A.J. Greer instead. After struggling through an injury-plagued year last season, he is at a point per game through his first 20 this year, indicating that he has finally figured out the level. He can provide size and some offensive ability to the bottom line for the Avalanche. As good as their first line has been, the scoring thins out rapidly after that trio. Greer has spent time in the NHL this year and in each of the last two, but only one game this year. He should receive a more extended callup in the near future.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Filip Zadina, the sixth overall pick in the most recent draft is the rare player drafted out of the CHL leagues who is eligible to play in the AHL immediately. The Red Wings were wise to assign him to Grand Rapids, as there was little benefit to be had with him returning to Halifax to dominate the QMJHL once more, going back to Europe would not have helped him get ready for what should be a stellar NHL career, and he was not needed on a rebuilding Detroit roster, at least not right away. He started a little slow this year, with only four points in his first eight games. Since then, he has put up 11 points in his last 15 games. Instead of trying to earn a callup on every shift, he is letting the game come to him and his pro caliber offensive tools. He was recently named to the Czech Republic’s selection camp for the upcoming WJC and is expected to be released by the Red Wings to participate. Depending on how Detroit maneuvers through the trade deadline, expect Zadina to get his feet, knees and hips wet at the NHL level during the season’s second half.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

I was all prepared to name Luke Kunin as being ready to be recalled. He may not have been ready during his 19-game trial last year, but his offensive game has come to the fore more often this year. Alas, Minnesota agreed with me and recalled him on the 10^th. Mason Shaw has been a very pleasant surprise as a rookie, but after a season lost in its entirety, spending more time on the farm is to his benefit. No need to rush him. Finnish import Kaapo Kahkonen has also been a revelation, being extremely hard to beat. But barring an injury to the rotation of Devyn Dubnyk and Alex Stalock, he will not make the leap this year. So, we will use this space instead to throw a few kind words on blueliner Brennan Menell. Signed as an undrafted free agent shortly before the beginning of last season, he found the transition to the AHL to be within his grasp, at least offensively. This year, he is contributing at both ends, skates well, has the strength to help himself in puck battles and moves the puck effectively. He could easily slip into the back half of the Minnesota blueline corps.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

Kristian Vesalainen looked fine in an eight-game trial, before being sent back to Jokerit. Mason Appleton once again leads the scoring chart for the Moose, but that may be temporary, as he was called up to the NHL two weeks ago and has picked up one assist in his first five games. I have a soft spot for rugged winger JC Lipon, but he is 25 years old already and his ceiling is appropriately lower. CJ Suess is not much younger at 24 but is only in his first pro season after four years at Minnesota State. He has scored eight goals already, half of which came on the power play. He is not the biggest player but plays a responsible game with plenty of energy and a touch of skill. He is also versatile, giving him a few paths to NHL time.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Nashville Predators right wing Eeli Tolvanen. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)

All eyes this year have been on Eeli Tolvanen in Milwaukee and despite some uneven performances, showed enough to be recalled recently. With apologies to Anthony Richard, who combines hustle with skill and grit and who recently made his NHL debut, the biggest steps forward taken by an Admiral thus far in 2018-19 have been made by Frederic Allard. A skilled puck mover and power play quarterback, he leads the Admirals in shots on goal and has been seeing time on both special teams’ units. He is adept at keeping his point shot low to the ice, inviting tips and deflections. For a player that was sent for a stretch to the ECHL last year, he may be knocking on the door to the NHL.

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

College free agent signee Sheldon Rempal has been fantastic for the struggling Reign, with 20 points in 16 games. He has earned his NHL recall, but his ineffective first seven games at the top ensured that he would marinate for a bit longer. A more circumspect collegiate free agent signing, Sean Walker actually played for the Reign last year on an AHL-only contract, signing an ELC in the off-season. The former Bowling Green State captain has proven himself to be a very competent defender in any situation for Ontario and like Rempal, has earned some NHL time. He is aggressive attacking an opposing puck carrier and similarly aggressive attacking the opposing offensive zone with the puck. If LA begins to sell off anyone not locked down (ie. Anyone other than Kopitar or Doughty) Walker is a prime candidate to receive a lengthy NHL audition.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Sikura(Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire)

Like the Kings profiled above, Chicago has struggled mightily this year. They have also fired the head coach. In Chicago’s case, they have brought in their former AHL coach to lead the NHL charges. In other words, when they call up a prospect from the farm, the bench boss will already know exactly what he can and cannot do. So it stands to reason that Rockford’s leading scorer Dylan Sikura, who we had ranked third in the system in the offseason, should be in line for a promotion in the near future. Already 23 years of age, he is not in the AHL for the weight room. He is a very good skater with an NHL shot release. He may not score like he did in college, but he has the tools and overall game to find a spot in the middle six in the NHL. The only question is why has he not been given that opportunity yet? It isn’t as if the Blackhawks already up have proven that they all deserve their jobs.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

Now that all of their AHL players are under one roof, it should be easier – in theory – for the floundering St. Louis Blues to determine which of their second-tier prospects are ready to impact the team at the top. For example, netminder Jordan Binnington, now in his sixth season as a professional, surprisingly outperformed the more highly touted Ville Huuso this year, after spending last year on loan with Boston’s AHL club. As the Blues gave up on NHL veteran Chad Johnson, it was in part due to Binnington’s performance. Another player who has exceeded expectations is rookie pro Mitch Reinke, signed as a free agent last spring out of Michigan Tech. He is not flashy, but is a smart puck mover, and has been racking up man advantage points. He would need protection defensively but could provide a positive impact in limited minutes.

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks)

A forgotten man in a young and talented Winnipeg organization, sparkplug Chase De Leo had seemingly plateaued with three very similar AHL seasons and only a brief two game NHL trial in his rookie season to show for it. Swapped in a minor deal with Anaheim in the offseason, he seems to have a new lease on life and a potentially smoother track to NHL time with an older organization. On pace for a career year in the AHL, De Leo, who actually grew up around a 30-minute drive from the Honda Center, should be in line for a stint with his hometown club in the very near future. He can play at center or on the wing and has been functional on both special teams’ units for the Gulls. Most eyes on San Diego will focus on higher profile prospects like Troy Terry or Sam Steel, or former first rounders Max Jones or Jacob Larsson, all four of whom have spent some time with the big club already this season. De Leo might be best positioned to find a steady role with the Ducks once he gets up though, even if his ultimate ceiling is dwarfed by the others.

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

When Francis Perron was included with Erik Karlsson in the off-season’s biggest trade, the general assumption was that he was a contractual makeweight, helping the Senators keep the right amount of controlled players in the system. A big scorer in the QMJHL, his first two pro seasons were disappointments and he was in danger of not being offered a second contract. So much for that idea. Perron is currently the leading scorer on the Barracuda at a touch over one point per game and has been a terror on the power play as well. In a season full of negative news from Ottawa, the surrendering of Perron might be another, albeit quieter one. If it were not for the Sharks’ depth at left wing, he might have already been recalled. Another player worthy of mention here is Jeremy Roy, who has been limited by knee injuries to 30 games combined over the last two seasons. Finally healthy, he has been productive as well for the Barracuda. There are naturally still questions about his pace after his leg injuries, but the fact that he can still perform around the level expected when the Sharks used a second-round pick on him in 2015 is heartening.

Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

CALGARY, CANADA – JULY 4: Andrew Mangiapane of the Calgary Flames (Photo by Brad Watson/NHLI via Getty Images) 

One day, Andrew Mangiapane will earn an extended NHL run. He was a top scorer in the OHL and in the AHL yet has not produced in his abbreviated NHL turns and is now up to 15 NHL games across two seasons with zero points to his name. Both Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington seem to be parts of the NHL rotation now on the blueline. Perhaps the next man up with be the well-travelled Kerby Rychel. Originally a Columbus first rounder, Calgary is his fourth organization, having also seen time in the Toronto and Montreal systems. His early run with Stockton seems to have revitalized his NHL prospects, as he is playing more assertively in the offensive end, showing the ability to score as well as set up linemates. He could add some truculent strength and skill to the bottom six in short order.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

There are two forwards in the Dallas minor league ranks who have exceeded expectations thus far, with two very different paths to this point. Former first rounder Denis Guryanov had been relatively disappointing in his first two AHL seasons, even bearing in mind that he was 19 and 20 years old in those seasons. He clearly had all the physical tools needed to excel, but he could not keep up with the pace of the game. Now 21, he looks to have made the much needed adjustments, and after only 22 games, he is a mere eight points shy of his career high at the level. He also scored his first NHL goal in a two game call up. On the other end of the prospect spectrum is Joel L’Esperance. A free agent signee out of Michigan Tech, he spent some time with the team on a trial in last year’s run to the Calder Cup final, providing size and grit, if not much offensive flash. While his point per game production in the first quarter of the season is likely unsustainable (he has scored on 18.5% of his shots) he has proven that he can be a productive two-way player at this level. If his feet can keep up, he has the makings of a fine fourth line center in short order.

Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes)

As good as Adin Hill has been thus far with the Coyotes, he was actually struggling in the AHL this year prior to the recall, although his pedigree suggested that his true talent is better that that, if not quite as high as he has showed in the NHL. With two of Tucson’s four leading scorers, Michael Bunting and Conor Garland, both given their first NHL recalls in the past few days, the other number producers should similarly be on alert. Winger Adam Helewka is in his third season in the AHL and has taken the next step in terms of production. He can finish and has a knack for finding dead space to make himself an inviting target for teammates to hit with a pass. Often enough, the man making those passes is defender Kyle Capobianco, who currently has 16 assists through 22 games. He is not afraid to get deep in the offensive zone on the cycle and has been deadly at both even strength and the power play. He earned a one game call up last year and should see much more time this year.

Ryan Suzuki is the highest ranked player from the OHL in our initial 2019 NHL Draft rankings. He receives his highest marks in a full report below in skating and smarts. A gifted passer he is tied for ninth in the OHL with 26 assists in 28 games.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Ryan Suzuki of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Skating: Suzuki is a smooth skater with good acceleration especially when he moves straight up the ice. He has the ability to beat defencemen wide or cut to the middle swiftly when he goes up on rushes. His ability to get back on odd man rushes is excellent as he has the stamina after a long shift to sometimes be the only forward on the backcheck. Overall he is a very solid and agile skater with multiple gears and high offensive prowess. Grade: 60

Shot: Although Suzuki has a knack for getting to the net and finding open ice, in all honesty he is a passer rather than a shooter. It is hard to determine how good his shot really is because he is such a selfless player in the offensive end that he rarely uses anything other than a wrist shot or a quick snapshot. Where those two shots are concerned he has a quick release that could potentially be a little more accurate. Whether in tight situations, penalty shots or shootouts the majority of Suzuki’s scoring chances come from dekes or deflections which allows him little practice when it comes to his shooting in game situations which is something he may need to work on as he matures as a player.  Grade: 50

Skills: Without a doubt what stands out about Ryan Suzuki is his skill with the puck and his smarts on the ice. He shines in breakout and special team situations when he has room to carry the puck or move the puck up the ice. He is a very skilled and patient passer with quick hands who rarely looks down at the puck which gives him more time to set up plays. Not only can he make fast, short passes to allow for smart give-and-goes but he also makes good stretch passes to drive the play up faster. Grade: 60

Smarts: Suzuki rarely skates into checks and most importantly, he rarely rushes to move the puck or make plays that could potentially set off odd man breaks for the other team. He is very patient on power plays and circulates the puck masterfully in the opposing zone while occupying the middle or sides well. Due to his skating being one of his strongest traits, Suzuki is also a fantastic two way player who greatly helps his team in penalty killing situations as he is such a strong but patient forechecker. He forces opposing players to move the puck and keeps a very active stick when on the penalty kill. He is a real threat for opposing teams with his knowledge of the game. Grade: 60

Physicality: Ryan Suzuki is not a terribly physical player and rarely goes for big hits, instead he uses his body to angle his opponents off the puck. He is a good player down low and in tight because he is so elusive and hard to hit for any player willing to try and keep up with his dynamics. Ultimately there is room for more physicality with Suzuki’s play, as he can work on digging deeper and being tougher on the puck. Grade: 50

Summary: A future for Ryan Suzuki in the pros is almost certain as he possesses all the skill and knowledge necessary to be a second line to third line player. With the Barrie Colts slowly starting to pick up momentum his confidence should grow as well. His passing skills will only get better as he moves to a higher level and hopefully grows into a Nicklas Backstrom type of player who is a brilliant passer and who sees the ice exceptionally well. There is surely a bright future for Ryan Suzuki if he can manage to finish with top minutes, top points and good numbers in special team situations.

Overall Future Projection  (OFP): 57

Blake Murray was one of our Honourable Mentions in our initial draft rankings as a player that had caught our eye early in the season. He uses his size (6'3") to good effect with a strong two-way physical game combined with smarts. Shaiyena Cote provides a full scouting report below.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Blake Murray of the Sudbury Wolves.

Skating: For a player with a big frame, Murray covers his ice very well and finds himself open in many situations throughout the game. He does so by demonstrating his smooth skating skills and good transitional pivots and edge work. He is agile and is rarely caught standing still on the ice. He always has his head up and is always looking for open lanes. Murray is very good at protecting the puck and working to create separation between himself and the opposing player by using directional changes in tight spots. For a player who likes to skate and create space, there is room for improvement where explosiveness is concerned and he should look to improve his consistency when it comes to how frequently he uses his higher gears. Grade: 55

Shot: Although Murray is a strong skater and trusted to play both power play and penalty kill due to his ability to get to the net, there are still times when he chooses to pass instead of shoot. He does however occasionally end up in control of the puck in the slot and near the hash marks where he seems to be able to get quality shots off . He has a good release but the shot itself could still be worked on for accuracy. On the powerplay he is good at occupying the right side of the ice for a left shot looking for either a one timer or a backdoor pass which he takes advantage of by using his size. He has good habits in front of the net, rarely is he in the blue paint and he has good vision when seeing point shots. Grade: 50

Skills: Murray is a very sleek, clever and skilled player with the puck. He displays a good amount of confidence when driving wide or deep in the offensive zone. The way he executes his passes and moves the puck is simple and effective. Murray’s knowledge of how long to hold onto the puck and his intelligence on the break out stand out as he looks to always keep his feet moving and is capable of demonstrating his high end passing skills as well as his confidence with the puck. He rarely misses the tape and uses his keen sight to find passing lanes through skates and under sticks which allows him to make strong breakout passes and contribute well offensively. Grade: 55

Smarts: Like most good two way players, Murray likes to make good use of all line mates and outlets on the ice and takes advantage of the point to cycle the puck. He is a very smart player down low and likes to showcase his forechecking abilities with good angling to strip defenders of the puck. He has excellent patience when setting up plays and slowing the game down both in his own zone on the breakout or while in the attacking zone. Murray is a leader on the ice and can be trusted to quarter back plays and be the last man back on the powerplay. Grade: 60

Physicality: Murray is a good physical player who does not shy away from being hit or doing the hitting. He excels well with angling and makes good use of his hands and good puck skills to keep his body between his opponent and the puck. Simply put, he is a good and solid physical player who stands out with his body positioning and angling skills. He also has the size to be able to make his presence known to opponents.  Grade: 55

Summary: Blake Murray has the skills and understanding to play at a higher level while also having room to develop. Overall he has the potential to get stronger and more dominant as he matures with his game. It will be exciting to see where his progress takes him throughout the season, hopefully pushing him to be faster and keep his feet moving while on the breakout and in special team situations. With his size and hockey sense he has the ability to be a Brett Howden type of player; a smooth skater, big presence on the ice and a smart centerman in all situations. Murray may not end up being the highest of draft picks but he certainly has a future in the pros.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 55.25

Shaiyena Cote considers Billy Constantinou "one of the most agile and fluid defensemen in the OHL this year". A 'B'  prospect from Central Scouting and an Honourable mention in our initial rankings Constantinou should see his name called in the early rounds of the 2019 draft.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity

Skating: Constantinou is one of the most agile and fluid defensemen in the OHL this year. His skating is what stands out when he carries the puck, as not only is he a talented forward skater but his control of his backwards crossovers is very strong as well. He thrives with space and can lead a rush which is very relevant with the new wave of offensive defensemen getting drafted. He is a great two way skater and is very creative on the line, his mobility helps him to lead rushes and in breakout situations. Grade: 60

Shot: A defenseman with a smart and accurate shot, Constantinou is best used in powerplay situations where his teammates have time to set up screens. Not only is he confident enough to shoot high through opposing players and his own team but he is also creative enough to find openings and move to see open lanes. He is a great shooter and a very intelligent defenceman who when on a rush is able to create chances with a smartly placed shot towards the far pad for a rebound opportunity. He could use a little more speed with his release but that can be worked on in the future. Grade: 50

Skills: A player who plays with the amount of assurance and confidence as Constantinou does is sure to have a vast amount of skill as well. Not only does he have a great set of hands where he maneuvers through players with ease, but he also has a very strong passing skillset. He easily adjusts to either make short passes on the breakout or builds speed to carry the puck up. He demonstrates his passing know how especially while on powerplay where he is keen to pick up assists or the odd powerplay goal. He is also an ideal penalty killer as well should he have possession of the puck as his hands and turning ability make him a hard opponent to take the puck from. Overall he has a very high skillset which he will be able to build on and use more to his advantage once he reaches the higher levels. Grade: 55

Smarts: Although Constantinou possesses high grades in the sections above, he sometimes over anticipates the play or bites on the odd dangle which results in him being out of position and having to close the gap again. His confidence when carrying the puck can sometimes lead him to being stuck deep down low on an odd man rush that can also leave him out of the play. He is a smart offensive defenseman but he does need work on his defensive play and making sure to remember that he is responsible to get back the minute he commits to driving deep. However he has the skillset and the smarts to adapt and change his game given the right tools over the remainder of this season in order to slow down the game a little more. This specific skillset is something that comes with growth of the player and knowledge of the game. Grade: 55

Physicality: Constantinou is a defenseman very capable of using his body to keep an opponent to the outside. He has a large toolbox that he uses to get opponents off the puck; from angling, to hitting, stick checks and light shoves, he is a relatively clean player who remains calm even in high pressure physical situations. When he has the puck on his stick he is great at using his body to protect it from his opponents and when he is the one doing the chasing he uses his speed to catch and rub out opponents. In front of the net he is a big enough body to move a player and can do so in a clean way which keeps his penalty minutes low. Grade: 55

Summary: Although not as smooth a skater or slick a stickhandler as last year’s first overall pick, Rasmus Dahlin, Billy Constantinou is instead a much more compact, to the point, aggressive and confident defenceman. Due to the way he carries the puck up the ice and the way he moves along the line to create chances, his play can be compared to that of former Vegas first rounder Erik Brannstrom. With that being said, there is a very high ceiling for Constantinou as he approaches his draft. Hopefully he will develop a less eager offensive game and instead learn to wait on the puck just a little longer before moving it, with patience being key down low. In any case, it will be nice to see him challenged to see if he can maintain his confidence with each move he makes to a higher caliber team.

Overall Future Projection  (OFP): 55.5

The QMJHL’s silly season is upon us.

The league’s trading period opens up Sunday, and several trades are already in the books, some of which were consummated before the opening bell was officially opened. The period closes up on January 6. One thing to be expected this season: contenders will have to pay to make their teams better heading into the second half.

All eyes are on the Halifax Mooseheads this season as the Memorial Cup hosts in May. Because of this, the team has some extra pressure to build a contender. On paper, they are one of the strongest teams in the entirety of the Canadian Hockey League, but they have struggled a little bit with consistency. The team is noticing some potential issues that may need solving for the tourney, adding to their depth.

Now, if newspaper quotes are to be believed, Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell is not all that interested in blowing up the future for the present, as he observes that his team could be even better next season as presently constructed. However, this year is a guaranteed Memorial Cup berth, whereas future years are earned solely by hard work from August-to-May. The sure thing dictates that this declaration is just posturing, as a Memorial Cup host can expect a heightened market for any assets.

Further, this Mooseheads squad could use some tinkering. Edmonton Oiler forward Ostap Safin, acquired from Saint John at the start of the season, has been in and out of the lineup due to ongoing hip issues. Overager Jordan Maher has simply not been the best fit with the team with just four goals so far, despite his best efforts. Anaheim Ducks prospect Antoine Morand’s game has been as expected, but the numbers are not quite where they should be, with 28 points in 29 games. Potential first rounder Raphaël Lavoie has hit a bit of a snag this season, not looking like himself from last season; he is scoring less and seeing his focus wane at times this season. The offence, a strong suit in prior years, is sixth-best in the league right now, with a few blowouts augmenting the numbers.

New Jersey Devils defender Jocktan Chainey has seen his ice time drop and Chicago Blackhawks blueliner Jake Ryczek has seen his rise, but behind Jared McIsaac and Justin Barron, who have been solid, there is no big third defender option. Despite that, the team has solid defending numbers, tied for second-best in goals against.

To his credit, goaltender Alexis Gravel has been maybe the team’s most valuable player so far this season, but his backup option is Cole MacLaren, a decent choice but not a goalie you want starting against the OHL and WHL champions.

To that end, Halifax will be in on a defenceman this trading period, and potentially a second goaltender as well. If the price is right, they may also look to add to the forward group to try and jumpstart the offence.

Noah Dobson

Thankfully for the Mooseheads, the two biggest names available in the trading period are both defencemen. New York Islanders prospect Noah Dobson is the biggest fish in the pond, and right behind him is Arizona Coyotes draft pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

The price for Dobson will set the market, as he is the prize all teams are competing for. Dobson is a game-changer on defence, capable of controlling a game from the back-end, and has championship experience on the biggest stage. Joseph is a very solid consolation prize, as teams who find the price for Dobson too high may rather try to acquire one of the league’s hardest workers and smartest players. The Islanders also have very useful players to add into a Joseph trade to help a win-now team, such as Keith Getson or Anaheim Ducks prospect Hunter Drew, but it’s believed that Jim Hulton is not looking for far-off picks, preferring players that can help as early as next season in exchange for his assets. Having said that, the Islanders are in a contending position, and could choose either to stand pat or add to their team.

What is interesting in the Dobson speculation is that it is rumoured that any deal involving him will have to go through the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, as part of conditions of a prior deal for Bathurst last season. The Sags would rather the assets that Dobson would provide rather than use him this season, as Chicoutimi is a middling team with no real title aspirations this season. The suspense will run into the new year, as Dobson cannot officially be traded until his term with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships are over.

There are some top-level defender and forwards beyond those two, but in goal, most contenders seem to be set with one or two good goaltenders. There are many options for a team to buy for a playoff run – Minnesota Wild prospect Dereck Baribeau from Quebec, Pittsburgh Penguin signee Alex D’Orio in Saint John and fellow Penguin camp attendee Tristan Côté-Cazenave, to name three – but most of the top teams are set in net.

The changed playoff format this season could also have an effect on the trading period, due to the imbalance of talent between the Eastern and the Western Conferences. Starting this year, to prevent so many easy matchups in the first round and to cut down on potential travel, the league decided to drop the 1-vs-16 format and form two conferences of two divisions each. The Maritime teams and the Eastern-most Quebec teams form the 10-team East, and the rest create the eight-team West. There is the potential for wildcards to allow the top 16 teams to make the playoffs, but the weakness of this playoff format is best demonstrated by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. At the time of writing, the Eagles would hold home ice in the old playoff format, sitting in eighth spot in the league. Because of the new conference format, though, Cape Breton would be sixth in the East, drawing a tough, contending Baie-Comeau team, on the road no less, in the opening round, rather than 11th-place Quebec. That format change could influence some teams in terms of whether to buy, sell or stand pat this season.

Two definite contenders outside of Halifax that dominate the list of other potential buyers are the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Rouyn-Noranda are a very strong team built from within and coached and managed by last year’s Memorial Cup winner, Mario Pouliot. They are hard-working, very deep in net and on defence, and just one player on the entire roster has played for another Q team. Their wildcard is the potential return of injured Pittsburgh Penguin prospect Zachary Lauzon. His return would put the Huskies in limbo with their overagers, and they would have to make a decision on their 20-year-olds.

Joe Veleno

The Voltigeurs are maybe the league’s deepest team, led by Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxime Comtois and Detroit Red Wings first rounder Joe Veleno up front, Chicago Blackhawks first rounder Nicolas Beaudin and New Jersey Devils prospect Xavier Bernard on defence, along with Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Rodrigue in goal. Comtois’s return to the Q is maybe the biggest acquisition any team could have made this season. They are a rumoured team for Dobson, and adding Dobson to Beaudin and Bernard defensively would make Drummondville a very tough team to face in the playoffs with that three-headed monster on the back end.

One team that is certainly making some changes is the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. General Manager Steve Ahern has promised that several trades will be announced Sunday. They are heavily linked to the above-mentioned D’Orio.

Further with the Drakkar, Calgary Flames pick D’Artignan Joly has left the team on his own accord, awaiting a trade. Joly and the team have had a bumpy 2018, with player wanting to be more creative and team wishing he was more engaged and aggressive. Joly can absolutely score at this level, but he is an artist more than he is a worker.

Editor’s note – prior to publication, it was announced that Joly had been dealt to Victoriaville

The Rimouski Oceanic were a contender for the league title on paper this season, but they look up at the Drakkar at this point in the year and are facing a decision – do they go for it or hold back and go for it next year. According to bench boss Serge Beausoleil, they will be tentative, but not sell off players who won’t return, including captain Charles-Edouard D’Astous, who drew some interest from the Ottawa Senators in the summer. The Oceanic are the proud team of phenom Alexis Lafrenière, who will return to the league next season, and Rimouski could set themselves up to be an even better team next season.

The Moncton Wildcats may opt to do the same, as they have a high-flying offence, but many players also set to return for next season, namely potential first rounder Jakob Pelletier and Minnesota Wild pick Alex Khovanov, despite some issues on the defensive end. Unlike the Oceanic, though, players not returning next season or otherwise not in the plans for next season could be available for trade.

Among the anticipated sellers, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan have also had a move announced ahead of Sunday’s opening day for the mid-season trading period. They will acquire forward Anderson MacDonald from the Wildcats for a pair of picks. MacDonald has not had the bounce-back season either he or the Wildcats were hoping after he was surprisingly undrafted in last June’s NHL Entry Draft. MacDonald has battled injuries all year, and has played in only four games, largely on the fourth line, before being shuffled out of Moncton to the north of New Brunswick.

The Titan have also all but moved Dobson, fellow blueliner Keenan MacIsaac and forward Ethan Crossman, and will continue to take calls on defender Michal Ivan. The foursome all played key roles for the Memorial Cup winning Titan squad last year, as they look to set themselves up for a rebuild.

Editor’s note – Prior to publication, both Crossman and MacIsaac were dealt to Baie-Comeau

One can add the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to the list of potential sellers, as they may look into cashing in on the remaining assets from three straight strong playoff runs. Montreal Canadiens prospect Joël Teasdale is a name that would garner lots of interest, and they have many useful veterans they do not need this season – Rémy Anglehart, Alex Katerinakis, Luke Henman, Thomas Ethier and Charles-Antoine Giguère come to mind. The Armada could recoup a lot of assets for their collection of forwards.

Editor’s note – Giguère was traded to Moncton prior to publication

The Gatineau Olympiques could also cash in on a few of their players for the future, namely Minnesota Wild prospect Shawn Boudrias and overager Gabriel Bilodeau, who could put up points on a contender looking to upgrade their powerplay. So could Val-d’Or’s David Noel, a St. Louis Blues pick, who is 19, but is currently on the shelf with an eye injury.

The composition of the QMJHL’s top teams will look different between now and January, and despite the high prices, expect a lot of player movement this time around.

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Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)

One of the most unheralded components as to why the Tampa Bay Lightning have been perennial contenders for the last little while—is how much talent they have developed with their AHL affiliate.

Just over 40% of the Bolts’ current roster, including the likes of Anthony Cirelli and Yanni Gourde, were homegrown and developed with the Crunch, or with the organizations previous affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. The Lightning have invested heavily in their own internal development of prospects, which is crucial when you’re paying big time bucks for players like Steven Stamkos ($8.5 mil cap hit) and Victor Hedman ($7.8 mil cap hit) and competing in a professional sports league with a salary cap that increases by a matter of inches, compared to the NBA and NFL.

The Lightning have found ways to draft and develop effectively and surround their highly paid players with cheap, effective players on entry level contracts.

Looking onward to next offseason, where the club has big-time players to sign—such as budding star Brayden Point and promising D-man Mikhail Sergachev—and only 12.6 million dollars to spend, it’s ever-so-important for the team to have productive players on entry level contracts. Luckily for Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, who is going on his 9th season at the helm of the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate, there is plenty of talent brewing on the farm.

Two names you’re going to want to remember—Alexandre Barre-Boulèt and Taylor Raddysh.

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Syracuse Crunch right wing Taylor Raddysh (18) on the ice during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Syracuse Crunch and Cleveland Monsters on November 30, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

Barre-Boulèt, who went undrafted three times before signing with the Bolts as an undrafted free agent last season, is starting to rapidly climb the ladder amongst his contemporaries in the Lightning system.

Through his first 24 games of his rookie AHL campaign, the 5-9” winger is a point-per game player and has taken a step in his development that nobody anticipated. The undersized, albeit ultra-talented, Barre-Boulèt is the reigning CHL player of the year, after recording 116 points for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. Coming into this season, the Crunch coaching staff were not really sure what they were going to get in Barre-Boulèt. Undrafted overage players that excel in Major Junior hockey are always a crap shoot to pan out in pro hockey.

“You never know how those guys are going to adjust. Some guys need a year. Some guys need a month. Some guys need more time,” Syracuse Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx told McKeen's Hockey.

But Barre-Boulèt has adjusted, alright. He has been a key cog on a deep, veteran-heavy Crunch squad and has proven that he is extremely versatile—having played all three forward positions—and dynamic. He can cut to the inside and rip a shot, or he can distribute the puck to his teammates and he has experience at all three forward positions. He has been a big driver of play at the AHL level in his rookie year.

“He’s probably one of the best playmakers we have in this league right now,” Groulx said.

Barre-Boulèt’s 24 points pegs him fourth amongst his U22 peers at the AHL level.

When watching Barre-Boulèt, there are plenty of similarities to Yanni Gourde and it is not just because they both took a similar path to get to the Bolts organization. Both players use their vision and slick skill work to compensate for their lack of size and they are both positionally sound.

“I have the same agent as [Yanni Gourde] so it’s pretty easy to model my game after him. He’s a small guy that works hard all the time,” said Barre-Boulèt.

Taylor Raddysh, however, is far from an unknown commodity. The Bolts selected him 58th overall in the 2016 draft and the Caledon, ONT native was a force in the OHL.

“Even in a game where you might not see him creating a lot, one second later, it’s on his stick then off his stick because of his great release,” Soo Sault Marie Greyhounds General Manager Kyle Raftis, who pulled off a mega-deal at last years’ OHL trade deadline to acquire Raddysh, told McKeen's Hockey. “He’s constantly a threat on the ice.”

Raddysh’s game—a heavy power forward with a nose for the net and ability to score from anywhere on the ice—has transitioned well to the AHL. His nine goals on the year ties him for third among U-21 skaters in the league and he has been deployed on the man-advantage, heavily, too.

“If he’s got the puck, I believe that he’ll score every time,” Groulx said.

What’s even more impressive with Raddysh, though, is his increased compete level. That is something young stud prospects can struggle with as they adapt to the pro game. But Raddysh did his due diligence on the Crunch before coming here, and had an idea of how hard he would have to work to earn his stripes. Raddysh trains with Anthony Cirelli and he picked the Lightning forward’s brain about what to expect.

“He kinda filled me in on what it was going to be like and things like that. I had my eyes open and knew what was coming for me.”

What Raddysh would soon find out was that nothing was going to be given to him, no matter his pedigree.

Both Raddysh and Barre-Boulèt are aware of how successful the Bolts have been at developing AHL players, and it is something they are both appreciative of.

It’s why Barre-Boulèt signed with the Bolts in a blink of an eye.

“My agent was talking with Tampa. He just called me one day and said ‘we got a deal on the table, do you want to go with Tampa?’ I said yes right away,” Barre-Boulet said. “When you get the chance to join an organization like that, you don’t pass on that.”

The list of AHL alumni currently on the Lightning is why Raddysh is riding the wave and taking every bit of criticism from the coaching staff.

“It helps you remember that the coaches here have you on the right direction.”

Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

For a second year in the row, the Toronto Marlies have the youngest player in the entire AHL. Last year, it was Timothy Liljegren who was undergoing a huge adjustment as he played his rookie AHL season as an 18-year-old, in a league of men, while also adjusting to playing on the smaller ice surface.

This year, the Leafs have plunked another 18-year-old onto the Marlies, that being the club’s 2018 first round pick, Rasmus Sandin.

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 24: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Rasmus Sandin (78) shoots the puck during the NHL preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 24, 2018, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

Playing in the second-best league in the world as a teenager is no small task, but Sandin has handled it in stride and morphed into a top-four defenseman for the Leafs’ AHL affiliate. Through 18 games this season, he has recorded 10 points (second among U-20 defenseman) while becoming a staple on the team’s power play.

Sandin is a smooth skating defender who can move the puck and push the pace. His most impressive trait, though, is his hockey IQ, which is off the charts.

“The players are stronger and quicker, and you have to make your decisions quicker,” Sandin pointed out upon being asked how he has adapted to the AHL game.

His progression, so early into the season, has blown away Marlies’ head coach Sheldon Keefe.

“He’s showing the ability to contribute in lots of different areas for us. Every game that he plays, he seems to get another level of comfort,” Keefe said. “We, in turn, get a little extra confidence to put him out in different situations.”

Sandin, who played pro hockey in Sweden at 17, played last season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He still has two more years of Junior eligibility, yet it is almost a forgone conclusion that he won’t be returning to the OHL. His stint in the OHL is a big reason why Sandin has progressed, as it gave him an opportunity to adapt to the smaller ice surface, which he has grasped quite quickly.

“It was maybe within a couple of weeks. It wasn’t very long [before he adjusted],”

Sandin will have to make another adjustment as he has been loaned to Sweden’s World Junior team and will be playing on a bigger ice surface, one again. But for someone like Sandin, whose hockey IQ and ability to adapt is unparalleled for his age—it shouldn't be a problem. Expect he to take on a big role with Sweden.

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Sonny Milano and Eric Robinson are two guys you should keep note of, in terms of future blue Jackets.

The two prospects are noteworthy for different reasons.

Milano’s case is a matter of someone with a high ceiling that has not been able to translate his game to the NHL level with enough consistency. To Milano, it is pretty simple what he needs to do to advance to the next level.

“I’ve got to gain some trust from Tortz,” said Milano, referring to Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella.

Despite suiting up for 55 games with the Blue Jackets and potting 14 goals last year, his game still has plenty to work on. The biggest problem is that Milano, who is immensely talented with the puck, oftentimes struggles to make smart decisions with the frozen black rubber.

“He's unpredictable at times,” admitted Monsters head coach John Madden. “He’ll try some things that most people wouldn’t.”

Milano’s game away from the puck, at the NHL level, was struggling. That became problematic for him—as he was coached by Tortorella, a no-nonsense coach who relies on his bottom six for smart two-way play—and after eight games with the Blue Jackets this season, he was sent down to the Monsters.

Since coming down to the Monsters, though, Madden has tried to work with Milano on improving his game away from the puck—by putting him on the penalty kill. Madden says he’s one of the team’s best penalty killers. Furthermore, Milano is a point-per-game player through 16 games—which has done wonders for his confidence, as he looks more and more dominant with each passing game.

“He’s just one of those guys that you want to play with,” Madden said.

Robinson, on the other hand, is the prototypical bottom-six forward that has made great strides through his first half-season of pro hockey. He is a 6-2” forward with a combination of speed and size that is combined with a consistent effort, night-in and night-out.

“He keeps his game really simple and knows what his strengths are,” Madden said.

Robinson, who played four years at Princeton University, signed with the Blue Jackets last spring as an undrafted free agent.

The 23-year-old forward could very well contend for a spot with the Blue Jackets next fall.

Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadians)

Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

It is no secret that the Montreal Canadians prospect pool is, to put it lightly, bleak. It is even less of a secret that this current regime of management has been in search of more center depth over the last several drafts.

It appears the Canadians have found a diamond in the rough with 21-year-old centreman Jake Evans, who the organization snagged in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. Evans, who has recorded 17 points in 29 games, is a natural playmaking center with a high hockey IQ who shined at Notre Dame university for four seasons. This season, he started off playing limited minutes in the first handful of games of the season, as Laval Rocket head coach Joel Bouchard tried to preach to him the importance of being a well-rounded center.

“The few games I was probably playing six, seven minutes a game,” estimated Evans.

Early on in his rookie season, Evans realized that he wasn't playing college puck anymore.

“In college, you can get away with making some riskier plays and try to do a little extra,” Evans explained. “But here, you just got to play simple."

Early in the year, a big problem Evans had was that he would cheat a bit defensively. In college, when you are a bonafide star at that level, that’s fine. But in the AHL—a league of seasoned professionals—one slip up will cost you big time, and for a young guy like Evans—probably a few shifts. To play in the middle of the ice, one has to be responsible defensively and the Rocket have been preaching that to him.

“I’m really hard on him, I’m demanding of him—I’m not going to lie to you,” Bouchard said.

But for Evans to fortify some of his weaknesses, it is going to be through trial and error. Hence why the team has been giving him plenty of defensive zone starts and placed him in situations—such as at the end of a game when protecting a lead—where he is needed to shut down the opposition.

His efforts in the smaller areas of the game have also landed him more time on the man advantage, where he plays on the point.

“He’s definitely on the right path,” Bouchard insisted.

Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

Buffalo Sabres Right Wing Alexander Nylander (70) (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire).

Boy, did Alex Nylander pick the wrong year to have a breakout season.

After struggling to find his way in his 18 and 19-year-old AHL seasons, Nylander has hit that next gear that many thought he had, in his third pro season. This breakout season just so happened to come during the year that his brother, William, was in the midst of one of the most publicized restricted free agent holdouts of the last several years.

So, let us give credit where it’s due; Alex Nylander is having a heck of a season.

He has 20 points through 27 games, tying him at 4th among U-21 forwards, which comes as no surprise to those who have been around him. Many knew that he would find a way to translate the dominance he had in Junior to the pro game.

“He had a flare to him where he could just wow the crowd,” James Boyd, Nylander’s general manager when he was with the Mississauga Steelheads, told McKeen's Hockey.

Binghamton Devils forward Michael McLeod is not surprised in the slightest by his strong start.

“No surprise—he’s the best linemate I’ve ever played with,” said McLeod, who has twice represented Canada at the World Juniors.

Alex’s game parallels William’s in many respects. The individual skills they each possess mirror one another—as does the damage they can do when they have time and space.

It will be interesting to see what a full season of AHL success could do for Nylander’s chances at cracking the big club next season.

Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)

After missing the first month and a half with a concussion, Canucks goalie prospect Thatcher Demko is back and as good as ever.

Demko had a coming out party last season when he kept an underwhelming Utica Comets team afloat and helped them avoid a sweep before losing in five games to the to Toronto Marlies in the AHL postseason.  Last year’s Marlies were one of the best teams in AHL history, making Demko’s stats from that series—2.69 GAA, .927 SV%—all the more impressive.

This year, through 13 games, he is sporting a .915 SV% and a 2.36 GAA all the while playing behind a Comets team that is one of the worst in the entire AHL (third most shots allowed per game).

It won’t be long before the tall (6-4”) and freakishly athletic Demko makes the jump to the big leagues.

Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)

While almost everything associated with the Ottawa Senators is a dumpster fire right now, you would be surprised to know that they have got some promising talent developing in Belleville.

First and foremost, the obvious one—Drake Batherson. Batherson, a rookie, ripped up the AHL in his first 14 games—scoring 20 points. His efforts earned him a recall to the Senators and he recorded a respectable eight points in 17. Surprisingly, he was sent back down to Belleville on Tuesday—but he likely won’t be there for too long.

Now, for the less heralded names:

Christian Wolanin is someone you ought to keep an eye out for. He is a smooth skater who possesses the puck well and quarterbacks the team’s first power play unit. He has a good stick in the defensive zone and is positioned well. The University of North Dakota product has 14 minutes in 21 games and when he is in the lineup, he is one of the most heavily deployed defenseman by head coach Troy Mann.

The name Rudolfs Balcers may only resonate with Senators fans still angry about the package that came their way in return for Erik Karlsson. Balcers was an unheralded part of that package by casual fans—but some scouts I spoke to raved about Balcers, and now we can all see why.

Besides, the guy scored 23 goals as an AHL rookie last year, and before that in his first year in the WHL he triggered the red light on 40 occasions.

Balcers has a nose for the net and a skill-set that works well in and around the tight areas of a net. There should be no surprise that his 10 goals on the year leads the baby Sens.

Binghamton Devils

Save for Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri—the Devils seriously lack offence.

Luckily for them, though, they have plenty of options on the way.

The first of which is John Quenneville, who is currently with the big club after recording 19 points in 19 games with the B-Devils. Quenneville is a hard working forward with plenty of skill. HIs biggest issue is finding time and space to deliver, but once he adapts to the pace, he could be a really solid middle six addition to the Devils.

Michael McLeod is another player who was recently rewarded a call-up by the Devils, and with good reason.

He is a smart playmaking center with fantastic puck handling skills. He can make something out of nothing and uses his body to shield the puck quite well. The 20-year-old forward has 15 points through 28 games this season.

We are proud to be releasing our second annual World Junior Guide prior to the start of the tournament

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Click on the players name to link to his page

Jack St. Ivany, United States

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Erik Brannstrom, Sweden

Isac Lundestrom, Sweden

Noah Dobson, Canada

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Martin Kaut, Czech Republic

Vitaly Kravtsov, Russia

Nando Eggenberger, Switzerland

Jonas Rondbjerg, Denmark

Rasmus Kupari, Finland

Milos Roman, Slovakia

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December is a big month for young prospects. The World Junior brings opportunities for the world's best under-20 hockey pupils, while those who don't get the nod to compete internationally can earn a recall to the NHL -- or an expanded role in the AHL -- to fill the absence of those who do.

Now in the middle part of the season, coaches around the AHL have solidified their lineups for the long haul and have committed to deploying their organization's best prospects in the ways that suit their game best. The first couple of months of the season are a feeling-out period, but once the youngsters in the locker room have made their mark, they are given the space and time they need to develop.

This is a familiar case in the AHL's Central Division, where a wide assortment of the game's top prospects are spending their development days and being given an increased role with their respective teams.

In this notebook article, we will take a look at the Central Division of the world's top minor league and highlight the month of some prospects playing in the eight-team classification.

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Things must be pretty easy when you're 10-0-1-0 in your last 11 games and the top-ranked team in the Western Conference.

SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Erik Brannstrom (12) enters the zone during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Vegas Golden Knights on September 22, 2018, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

For anyone that might have taken in a Team Sweden game at the World Junior Championships, yes, Erik Brannstrom is for real. As a rookie in the AHL, Brannstrom (3rd in Vegas preseason prospect rankings) leads the Wolves in points by a defensemen with four goals and 16 assists in 24 games.

The Swede is perhaps the best skater in the Golden Knights' organization -- at any position -- and is using his legs to wreak havoc for the first-place Wolves. Brannstrom plays a game that seemingly translates well to the NHL; fast-paced, smart, visionary, and speedy. He still has some work to do on the defensive side of the game.

Alongside him on the Chicago blueline are two other heralded prospects, Nic Hague (4th) and Zach Whitecloud (12th), who have each had stellar debut seasons in the AHL. Hague, a prolific two-way defenseman during his time in the OHL, has demonstrated what made him dangerous in junior by using his 6-6" frame to dislodge opponents and immediately go forward with the puck.

Hague (9-8-17 in 33 games) has an absolute laser of a shot, but could stand to improve his passing skills just a bit. Whitecloud (4-12-16 in 31 games) has been a mature, steady force on an otherwise very young defense, and the free agent signing out of the NCAA is perhaps the best defensive defenseman out of the three mentioned here, and possesses quick hands to boot.

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Minnesota's second-ranked prospect got the recall to the NHL this month as Luke Kunin (8-7-15 in 21 AHL games) was plucked out of the minors. As someone who can impact the game through skating and energy, Kunin has not been all that impressive in the NHL this season (0-1-1 in eight games). Still, with the room to grow, Kunin can be a key player, and I wouldn't be surprised if he has already played his last AHL game of the season.

Another prospect who has had some growing pains is Louis Belpedio (5th). The NCAA-made defenseman contributed much to the Miami Ohio offensive attack before turning pro, but has not made the transition the AHL very easily. Belpedio (3-7-10 in 32 games) has, however, impressed as a two-way force, as he moves the puck well and is as mobile as anyone else playing in Des Moines. As a right-hander, Minnesota would be smart to scoop him up at any time.

Speaking of World Junior prowess, goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen -- a gold medalist as the backstop of the 2016 Finland squad -- has had a pretty solid month on top of a strong first North American pro season. Kahkonen (7th) is 8-4-4 with a 2.50 GAA and .917 Sv% this season, and both of those rate stats are good for top ten in the whole league.

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

While Filip Zadina is gone representing the Czech Republic at the World Juniors, someone has to fill the void for the Griffins. Unfortunately for the Red Wings brass, most of Grand Rapids' top players this season have been seasoned veterans with no chance to help in a rebuild, like Chris Terry, Carter Camper, and Matt Puempel.

Detroit's reality is that a lot of their top prospects are either playing in the NHL or are too far away from turning pro right now. Michael Rasmussen (3rd), Dennis Cholowski (7th), and Filip Hronek (8th) are all playing with the Red Wings as I write this down.

Zadina (1st) has been a solid offensive force (8-9-17 in 27 games), but other than that, it's been a mixed bag. Dominic Turgeon (19th) has shown what his ceiling is in his time with Grand Rapids this season (3-8-11 in 34 games), just a fourth-line NHL center or extra body on a good top-tier team, while defenseman Joe Hicketts (11th) has improved since his underwhelming sophomore season with a stat sheet that shows his ceiling (1-8-9 in 25 games).

Hicketts can be a good third-pair defenseman if he can work to overcome his dismal physical game, at 5-8", 180lbs. His positioning away from the puck is getting better, as is his play low in the zone and against the boards.

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

Gavin Bayreuther returned to action with the Texas Stars for two games at the end of the month after spending a month and a half with Dallas. A hot commodity out of college, Bayreuther (13th), in his second pro season, has developed into a servicable two-way defenseman who has improved his blueline defense and overall reading of the ice.

In a goaltending system stacked with NCAA stars (former and current), unsigned free agent Landon Bow (unranked) has stolen the show with Texas. Bow had dominated what was supposed to be a shared crease between him and Hobey Baker nominee Colton Point, with 23 starts in Texas' first 31 games. Bow's combination between size (6-5") and composure gives him an NHL starter ceiling.

Denis Gurianov (8th) and Roope Hintz (9th) have bounced back and forth between Dallas and Texas this season, with each performing exceptionally in the AHL. Gurianov (9-19-28 in 23 games) and Hintz (8-11-19 in 17 games) are both playing at over a point-per-game pace, mostly playing on a Stars forward line together.

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Nashville Predators right wing Eeli Tolvanen. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)

While not the highest-profile prospect in the Predators system, Anthony Richard has been one of the most impressive over the last season and a half. Richard (9th) leads the team in goals and points (12-9-21 in 31 games) by playing the same way he played in his heyday in the QMJHL; fast, pesky, and energetic.

If the Predators weren't as stacked as they are at forward, Richard could be an instant recall. He has a hard shot, has played all three forward positions, and plays both sides of special teams.

Eeli Tolvanen (1st) has earned himself a promotion to Nashville before the Predators loaned him to the Finnish WJC team. Tolvanen's creativity, vision, and electric shot were the main spark of a somewhat potent Admirals lineup, as he had posted four goals and eight assists in 24 games before the recall.

The 24-year-old Emil Pettersson (13th) has put himself on the Predators radar late into his prospective development, as the versatile and intelligent center has seven goals and 13 assists in 34 games. His smarts have always been the main draw to him, but his offensive touch and foot speed have improved and now, he seems like a legitimate NHL prospect, rather than just Elias Pettersson's brother.

Defenseman Fredric Allard (14th) has contributed much to the offensive attack, in a way that Nashville fans are accustomed to out of blueliners. Allard is a physically smaller defenseman, but one who makes up for it with skating speed, smarts, and consistency (sounds a lot like Ryan Ellis, P.K. Subban, and Roman Josi, hmm?). His 18 points (3-15) lead all Admirals blueliners.

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Derek King absorbing the Rockford head coaching job after Jeremy Colliton replaced Joel Quenneville at the helm for the Blackhawks is just one of many trickle-down effects of the Blackhawks' ongoing re-tooling. The IceHogs have been impacted by many of those effects, with the coaching shuffle being the biggest.

Rockford has dropped from third to sixth in the division since Colliton's promotion, and that's a bummer for fans in Winnebago County, Illinois, but the prospects playing with the club are still performing well.

Dylan Sikura (3rd) has earned a recall to Chicago, but had torn AHL defenses up with his speed, hands, and flashiness before. Sikura (9-9-18 in 26 games) was a main cog in the Rockford lineup when the IceHogs made the Western Conference Finals a season ago, but he is likely finished playing in the AHL. That's how talented he is.

Victor Ejdsell (7th) has been decent for a very cold IceHogs offense, chipping in four goals and nine assists in 27 games. The power forward plays a game typical of players his size (6-5", 214lbs) and seems like a guy who could headman a good third line in the NHL. As the return in the Ryan Hartman trade, Ejdsell has some pretty big shoes to fill.

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

Jordan Kyrou at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

After a standout performance in last year's World Junior Championship, the Blues sent Klim Kostin to Vancouver for the 2019 WJC in hopes of it revitalizing his troublesome 2018-19 campaign with San Antonio.

Kostin (2nd) has all the tools to make crazy stuff happen on every shift, headlined by a big power forward-esque frame, a splendid shot, and great technical skating. However, Kostin has just five goals and six assists in 28 AHL games this season, as the Blues' 2017 first-rounder has struggled with positioning away from the puck. He isn't getting into the greasy areas offensively and letting his body create chances for him.

One heralded St. Louis prospect that has done exceptionally well this season is forward Jordan Kyrou (3rd), who paces the Rampage in goals (nine) and points (22) despite having played fewer games (21) than about anyone else on the roster.

The once electric OHL scoring machine is doing exactly what made him lethal with Sarnia, in letting his smooth skating and lanky, long reach set the tone for him and his line. Given that he can play all three forward positions and has the speed that few in the Blues organization have, Kyrou is a must-watch guy.

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

After the Jets sent top-ranked Kristian Vesalainen back to Europe for more seasoning, fellow impact prospect Mason Appleton took over the spotlight. The Michigan State alum has been incredible in his second AHL season after scoring 66 points in 76 games last season, which finished fourth in scoring.

Though he has bounced up and down between the Moose and Winnipeg Jets, Appleton (3rd) has been a consistent and lethal offensive force in the AHL when he has been present. With eight goals and 10 assists in 19 games, the right winger has been as effective shooting the puck as distributing it, despite having a reputation as a pass-first guy. His skating was severely flawed in his draft year but is now a strong suit, as his pivoting and acceleration are NHL-level.

Rookie defenseman Logan Stanley (6th) has not had as easy of a transition from juniors to the pros. The 6-7" behemoth is noticeably -- and understandably -- slow in adjusting to the AHL and hasn't been able to contribute in many ways (2-3-5 in 27 games).

A seventh-round draft pick in 2015, defenseman Sami Niku bursted onto the scene as one of the best d-men in the AHL during his rookie season last year. Niku is the prototypical modern defenseman, as his puck-moving skills and skating ability are as good as any defenseman -- at any level -- in the Winnipeg organization. This year with Manitoba, Niku (4th) has reinforced that belief, chipping in 2-8-10 in 17 games.

It’s amazing how the Quinnipiac hockey program has blossomed with many players to watch. There is a reason they headed into the break with a 14-3 record.

They have a good offense, but NHL teams didn’t invest in that with no drafted forwards on the team. They are invested in their blueline however, and their Top three specifically. The first defenseman who looks really good is Peter DiLiberatore. At 6-0”, 170 pounds he has some wheels. He is good at skating out of trouble, he shields the puck well and makes nice strips on defense and adept passes on offense. It’s no wonder the Vegas Golden Knights drafted him in the sixth round. They may have a future blueliner in him.

April 09, 2016: Chase Priskie (13) of Quinnipiac during the 2016 NCAA Frozen Four championship game between North Dakota and Quinnipiac at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photograph by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)

Chase Priskie is also a top-pairing d-man for the team and he has been doing it well for the last four years. He went into the break with 21 points in 17 games. The Washington Capitals drafted him in the sixth round back in 2016. Now 22, he is really blossoming this season. He has a good one-timer and an accurate wrist shot. The big improvement is in his skating and the way he brings the puck up the ice. No wonder he is on the top power play and the top penalty kill. He may have to wait a long time to play in Washington if he proves himself after turning pro.

Another Quinnipiac defenseman, Karlis Cukste, is a 6-4” Latvian with some talent. In 2015 he had a great showing in the U18s. He had two points and four assists in six games. His team came in dead last in their group, but he was a bright spot. His freshman season was a dip in the pool getting 15 points in 38 games. In his sophomore season, the points were down slightly with 13 but his penalty minutes were way down from 47 to 10.

His junior season has been his best. He had 12 points in his first 18 games with only six penalty minutes. He has good speed that he can call upon to skate the puck out of trouble. He is an accurate passer in his own zone, which is good since he has played on the top penalty killing unit and he can get things going up the ice to start the offense. He battles, and the Sharks love that in their players. He was a 5th round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and he has a chance of playing for them down the line.

American goaltender, Keith Petruzzelli is a known commodity. He was drafted in the third round by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He first made some noise playing for Muskegon in the USHL. That same year, 2016-17, he had a nice showing in the All-American Prospects Game. After that game, he was on a lot of teams’ radar and that’s probably why Detroit didn’t try to wait to get him in the later rounds.

His freshman season was rough, and it showed when he posted a .892 save percentage. That statistic is the money maker for goaltenders after they turn pro. Now in his sophomore season, he has posted a .917 save percentage through his first 11 games. He only played 17 games last season, so he will top that in 2018-19 for sure as he grows more accustomed to the collegiate game.

This season his glove looks very solid. He slides post to post and that is a fast way for a 6-5” netminder to guard against wraparounds and other scoring chances. He sees the puck very well in traffic. He can see over some of it and that is a benefit. His rebound control is good, and that is key for any goaltender at any level. He does a nice job directing blocker saves safely to his defenders to the safe areas.

With a man down, he can be the team’s best penalty killer. He can handle the high heat heading to the high corner. In 1-on-1 battles, he doesn’t give shooters much to work with. Detroit is hoping they have struck some gold in him, but he will likely finish out his college career and play in the AHL before they see him.

Quinnipiac is a powerhouse in the ECAC once again and that isn’t a surprise to anybody.

RPI always gets pushed to the side because they lack top players and therefore get lost in the ECAC. This season they aren’t the worst, so they are progressing.

Todd Burgess is a top-line right wing who is fun to watch. He was drafted in the fourth round in 2016. The Ottawa Senators may have something in this versatile player.

In 2015-16 he had 95 points in the NAHL. 38 of them were goals and he did that in 60 games. That league is known for producing NHL goaltenders like Anthony Stolarz (Flyers), Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop. And a fair number of forwards like Jimmy Hayes, Patrick Eaves, and Bryan Rust to name a few. The list has been growing for years.

The Phoenix, Arizona native plays hard along the wall. He uses his body well and has an active stick on defense. He needs more mental focus on defense, if he can do that, he can really upgrade his game. This season he has six points in his first 17 games. His focus beyond the college game would be as a defensive winger.

Chase Perry is a goalie who saw his first action this season against Notre Dame and the short time he was in the game was matching the performance of Cale Morris, arguably the best goalie in the country again, seeing as how he won the Richter Award last season. Back to Perry, he came in relief and stopped 17 of 18 shots. Last season he opened the season with a 56-save performance so there’s some talent there.

The 6-3” backstop is 22. He has only played 41 games for the Engineers. The Red Wings spent a 5th rounder on him in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. It is unclear where his career is headed but one of these seasons, he should turn pro and try and get more playing time with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League. Will he play a senior season for RPI? He probably will but you never know. The Red Wings may help him make that decision.

RPI is having another mediocre season but at some point, they should be able to turn it around.