2022 NHL DRAFT MIDSEASON RANKING: TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES WITH VIDEO – #41 thru #50

With this series of articles it is our intention is to briefly introduce you to each of the players ranked in our Top 50. Below you will find a short summary of their games in addition to a top highlight. In the coming months you will see in depth scouting reports published by our regional scouts on each of these players (like the Shane Wright one linked below).

41. Sam Rinzel - Defense - Chaska (USHS-MN)

One of the toughest things talent evaluators have to do each year is determine where to slot prospects playing at lower levels. One such player is athletic defender Sam Rinzel. The top prospect out of the Minnesota high school hockey loop this year, Rinzel combines size, mobility, and skill to make him a very effective offensive defender. The 6’4, right shot defender can pick up speed quickly leaving the defensive zone and this helps him really push the pace as a puck transporter. With deft moves and quick directional changes, he navigates his way through the neutral zone and becomes an asset by leading the attack in transition. The rest of his game is a work in progress, the evidence of that was a poor performance at the Biosteel All American Game recently. However, he has largely shown well at the USHL level this year with Waterloo (where he hopefully finishes the year) and has the physical tools to reach a high ceiling should an NHL team be patient with his development. It is to be determined if he spends next year in the USHL or heads to the University of Minnesota, but Rinzel is looking like a big home run swing right now and the upside has him moving up our list.

42. Ludwig Persson - Wing - Frölunda J20 (Swe J20)

Our list shifts from one of the draft’s biggest risers thus far to a player who seems to be falling out of favour. Ludwig Persson entered the year as the odds-on favourite to be the first Swedish forward selected, however his development appears to have stagnated to date. A late born 2003 forward, Persson has failed to make a larger impact at the SHL level or establish himself as a regular depth player with Frolunda. There is still plenty to like about his game. He is one of the quicker forwards available this year and a dynamic mover overall. He uses this quickness to attack and is very active without the puck. He can excel in a variety of roles, making him a versatile player. However, his finishing ability and overall offensive skill set has not yet caught up to his skating ability. He can struggle to finish in tight and his hands are not always moving as fast as his feet. This could point to a relative lack of upside as an NHL player. Persson has a solid floor as a prospect and looks like someone who could be a terrific bottom six player and penalty killer, however he will need to show more offensively down the stretch to remain in our top 50 to close out the year.

43. Artyom Duda - Defense - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Originally thought of to be more of a stay-at-home type, Duda’s offensive game and confidence has exploded this year in the MHL where he has been one of the league’s top scoring blueliners. His ability to hold the line, get the puck on net, and prolong possession in the offensive end has really helped him hit the scoresheet and this overall evolution in his game is making the scouting community rethink his projection. Of course, Duda is doing this while still excelling in the defensive end by showing strong awareness and tenacity that helps him take away time and space. Now a dual threat, Duda has slowly been climbing our rankings. The only question is, is he a dynamic enough skater to truly be a play creator at the NHL level? Of course, this can be improved upon, but Duda is best described as being more agile than quick. Look for him to get more action at the VHL and perhaps KHL level down the stretch, before helping to anchor the Russian entry at the U18’s in April.

44. Jani Nyman - Wing - KOOVEE (Fin-Mestis)

A big power winger, Nyman has grown significantly the last few years and as such, he is very much still growing into his skill set. But there is a lot to like. Firstly, his skating has improved a lot over the last year, and he is now a big factor in transition as he looks to push through defenders by driving wide or cutting to the middle. Secondly, his shot is an asset, and he has a high ceiling as a goal scorer. He has been a consistent scorer in the Finnish second league against men this season. His play without the puck has made strides this year, but it still needs to improve. In a perfect world, Nyman could use his size to be consistently impactful in pursuit and to help win those positional battles, especially along the wall. By adding more layers to his game and improving his passing touch, Nyman could be an integral player even when he’s not scoring. But his package of size, scorer’s touch, and linear quickness can be difficult to find. He definitely has upside as a top six forward with a profile similar to Senator’s prospect Roby Jarventie.

45. Matyas Sapovaliv - Center - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

A big (6’4), but lanky center, Sapovaliv is playing in his first OHL season with the Spirit and has been excelling as the team’s first line center. Sapovaliv is the kind of player who is a noticeable difference maker even when he’s not hitting the scoresheet because of his awareness and effort in all three zones. His skating has taken huge steps forward this year, especially his agility and fluidity in all four directions. This has made him a difficult player to separate from the puck in the offensive zone, as he puts defenders on his back to prolong possession coming off the wall. His vision as a facilitator stands out in a positive way, however he also has great awareness without the puck and consistently works his way into soft spots in coverage to get scoring chances. Armed with incredible reach, he is a disruptive force, consistently forcing turnovers or clogging passing lanes. As he fills out his frame, his puck protection ability and his defensive effectiveness will improve, which is scary because they already show well. A change in mindset to become a little more physically engaged would also really help his game and consistency. Again, hopefully that script flips as he matures and adds bulk. An intriguing package of physical tools and IQ, Sapovaliv is bound to be a favourite of many NHL scouts who see significant upside in this young Czech.

46. Kevin Korchinski - Defense - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

At this point in time, Korchinski resembles the story of Jekyll and Hyde. There are games where he looks like a surefire first round selection. There are games where he looks like someone you may not draft at all. As such, he has very much divided our western scouting staff. At his best, Korchinski is a terrific puck mover from the back end because of his quickness and ability to cleanly execute the breakout. A strong skater who also happens to have a good frame (6’2), Korchinski definitely has high upside as an offensive player. However, his decision making and vision with the puck leaves some to be desired currently and it leads to some of these inconsistent performances. Additionally, Korchinski will need to increase his physical intensity level in the defensive end, as he is too easily bullied in one-on-one battles and as such, is not the most effective defensive player at this current time. If you rank Korchinski highly, you are banking on him improving his game management ability to match his strong mobility. Where we rank him reflects our belief that he has significant offensive upside, but also reflects the mitigation of some risk associated with him as a prospect.

47. Gleb Trikozov - Wing - Omskie Yastreby (MHL)

Talk about a polarizing prospect. You are likely to see Trikozov ranked anywhere from the first round to the third round right now. This is even reflected in our own scouting rankings, where our video scouts believe Trikozov should be ranked quite highly, but our European regional scouts are less high on him. What cannot be argued against is Trikozov’s effectiveness as a transitional attacker. He problem solves well cutting through the neutral zone, showing poise, confidence, and creativity in his ability to stickhandle through traffic to gain the zone. While he would not be considered an elite skater, he does well to alter pace and direction while maintaining possession to help him evade checks. More of a playmaker than goal scorer, Trikozov also does well to maintain possession along the wall, keeping his feet and his hands moving to be elusive, then often creating high-end chances in the slot with a great spot pass through a needle. His play without the puck can be inconsistent, with him being too casual and perimeter focused. Additionally, the physical tools won’t dazzle you. However, it should also be noted that he is one of the youngest players eligible this year. Perhaps further physical maturation will improve his quickness and ability to play a heavier game. Performing well of late in the MHL, Trikozov will be a player to watch down the stretch.

48. David Goyette - Center - Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Even though the Wolves haven’t really had the best of seasons, Goyette has been a standout, especially of late. Goyette is lethal in transition because of his ability to blend his skating ability and skill with the puck. Able to keep the puck on a string, even at top speed, Goyette consistently shows an ability to beat defenders one on one to the outside. However, he also shows a great understanding of how to use change of pace or direction to help gain the line or get to the middle; a skill that not all speedsters possess early on. Early in the year, Goyette struggled to find ways to consistently win battles and maintain possession. But as the season has progressed, he is succeeding more in traffic and as a result, his offensive contributions have increased tenfold. He will never be the biggest player, but his creativity, poise, and speed give him a chance to be a top six player at the NHL level. In a lot of ways, Goyette resembles young St. Louis Blues star Jordan Kyrou at the same age. While opinions in the scouting community seem fairly split on Goyette, we really like his upside and the progression he has already shown this year.

49. Owen Pickering - Defense - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

Pickering is a big defender who oozes potential because of his athletic tools. The fluidity of his stride at 6’4 is very impressive. His excellent four-way mobility makes him incredibly difficult to beat one on one. This is especially true when you factor in his love for physically punishing players below the goal line. As he fills out, he projects as a very good player in the defensive end at the next level. How you view Pickering’s upside depends on your opinion of his offensive talents. Truthfully, our scouting group is divided on this. He can look impressive lugging the puck out of his own end and is slowly gaining the confidence to consistently lead the attack. He certainly has the explosiveness to get separation and to gain the zone. At times, he also looks extremely comfortable running the point in the offensive end, using his quickness to beat stick checks to work down low. However, there are other times where he looks rigid and seems to lack some of the small area skill to be a consistent difference maker with the puck. How he finishes the year as a point producer likely dictates his final ranking. If his offensive game becomes more consistent, he should win over the rest of our scouting team and rise significantly.

50. Lian Bichsel - Defense - Leksands (SHL)

Big defenders who can move well. That is sort of a recurring theme in this year’s draft class. NHL teams obviously love this, given how integral they have proven to be when it comes to consistent team success (especially in the playoffs). Swiss defender (who happens to play in Sweden) Lian Bichsel is another who fits this category. The 6’5 blueliner moved to Sweden this year to further his development and considering he has seen regular time at the SHL level, that would appear to have been the right move. He is a graceful mover and as such, shows high end potential as a transitional attacker. However, his poise and decision making with the puck will need to grow further in order for him to truly become an offensive weapon. Even without further progression as a puck mover, Bichsel could still be a long time NHL defender because of his potential in the defensive end. His mobility is an asset there as he shuts down transitional attacks. He also is competitive physically. Bottom line here is that Bichsel has both a high floor and a high ceiling because of his physical tools, so long as you believe that he thinks the game at a high enough level.