Prospects to watch in the 2023 NHL Draft

by Curtis Isacke | Jun 26, 2023 | Uncategorized

Last week, we published the 2023 Sound Of Hockey Big Board. Give it a read. It compiles player information, statistics, and public draft rankings from reporters and scouting services for thousands of prospects in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Today, with the draft just days away, we return with a breakdown of prospects that caught our eye as potential targets for the Seattle Kraken, listed in Big Board order. I built the first draft of this list based on a review of the player’s NHL equivalency and Big Board analytics ranking relative to the player’s projected draft position. The analytics sources consulted included:

• Chace MacCallum (link): 75 ranked prospects
• Scouching (link): 82 ranked prospects
• Hockey Prospecting (link) ($$): 403 ranked prospects split into 2 separate lists
• Thibaud Chatel (link): 794 ranked prospects
• Rachel Doerrie (link): 64 ranked prospects
• TopDownHockey (link): 200+ ranked prospects

After this narrowed the field of potential candidates, I included a player in the final list only if there was also a scouting reason to believe in the player. A few of my own subjective perspectives influenced adding a few players on the margins. The players I like the most from a Big Board rank-to-value perspective are indicated with an asterisk. But, for the most part, I’ll save my thoughts for a mock draft planned for later in the week.

Using a similar approach to last year, I highlighted four players the Kraken ultimately drafted–Jani Nyman, David Goyette, Ty Nelson, and Tyson Jugnauth. I certainly would have written on Shane Wright and Jagger Firkus too, but I mistakenly assumed the Kraken would have no chance at getting either player with their first and second draft picks respectively. I’ve tried to be a little more flexible this year by including players a bit outside of Big Board range for the Kraken in case those players fall. That said, you still won’t see me digging into many high first-round prospects, for example.

Let’s dive in.

First-round prospects

6. Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg Ice, WHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 159 | 43 G | 72 A | 75 GP

Benson is no. 6 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 11 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “What always stands out to me about Benson’s overall game is his incredible tenacity off the puck. He challenges opposing players with aggressive stick checks and body position. What makes that skill even more effective is how quickly he can force turnovers and immediately make a dangerous play off a pass or shot. His awareness is high end and he anticipates as well as any player in this draft.” – Chris Peters

Notes: Benson is a skilled winger with all of the tools to be a top line play driver in the NHL. There have been some rumblings that NHL teams are lower on him than the public lists and mock drafts due to his size. Bob McKenzie and Corey Pronman, two well-connected draft reporters, had Benson ranked well below his Big Board position. Chris Peters–a very good friend of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast–mocked Benson at pick no. 17. Even so, he is so skilled, particularly as a playmaker, that I view it as highly unlikely he falls into trade-up territory for Seattle.

10. David Reinbacher, RD, EHC Kloten, NL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 74 | WT: 187 | 4 G | 20 A | 49 GP

Reinbacher is no. 9 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 5 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “His game rests on a projectable, rock solid defensive foundation. As opponents attack through the neutral zone, he gaps up early, builds speed going backward to match that of the puck carrier, takes away the middle of the ice with his stick, and closes with force once he’s registered support. Standing at 6-foot-2 and equipped with a skating stride that’s already a cut-above-average with room to get better – even when you’ve got Reinbacher beat in space, you don’t really.” – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: Again, this is a player almost certainly out of trade-up reach for Seattle at pick no. 20, but should he fall into range, his data profile is the best of any defender in the draft. He is a righty with good size and a strong season in a very good professional league. The floor seems very high on Reinbacher.

12. Matthew Wood, RW, University of Connecticut, NCAA

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 76 | WT: 197 | 11 G | 23 A | 35 GP

Perreault is no. 10 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 12 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: Matthew Wood, the youngest player in college hockey this year, . . . demonstrated his ability to control the game and effectively lead the team’s powerplay. His shooting technique is exceptional, often overpowering goalies with long-distance shots. Additionally, his passing abilities are solid, effortlessly executing no look passes. . . . While his skating may be slower compared to others, his strong hockey sense compensates by positioning himself appropriately at crucial moments.” – Tait Borst

Notes: Near point-per-game production at the NCAA level is similar to Matty Beniers’s draft season at the University of Michigan. He’s more physically mature but doesn’t boast the same well-rounded profile of the Kraken center. Wood’s power forward potential could appeal to the Kraken if he falls unexpectedly to no. 20.

14. Gabe Perreault, RW, USNTDP, USNTDP

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 71 | WT: 165 | 53 G | 79 A | 63 GP

Perreault is no. 7 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 7 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “There were times he flashed an amazing ability to one-touch pass and spring his linemates open, as well as he possesses a high level of skill to create passing lanes through sudden puck manipulation moves that darted by the defenders stick. However, when the pace of play picked up I found Perreault’s impact on the game began to diminish.” – Austin Garret

Notes: The production is undeniable. He broke Auston Matthews’s record for total points in a season for the U18 U.S. National Team Development Program. The question is whether he has the physical tools to translate that production to the professional level. I would place the bet. There was a time when it seemed like Perreault could slide into the bottom half of the first round, but now it seems like he will remain out of reach for the Kraken at no. 20.

19. Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver Giants, WHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 75 | WT: 195 | 24 G | 36 A | 47 GP

Honzek is no. 20 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 21 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s View: “Briefly derailed by injury, Honzek’s season was one that saw him consistently rise. Earlier in the year, he was generating a lot of buzz with his play as a 6-foot-3.5 forward who can drive the net and make plays in the hard areas of the ice. He doesn’t necessarily have any one stand out trait, but he does everything pretty well. You don’t have to worry about his work ethic on the ice and he absolutely battles against opposing defenders, giving them all they can handle.” – Chris Peters

Notes: He strikes me as a high-end athlete playing hockey more than a high-end hockey player, if that makes sense. But his athleticism is special. He turned in perhaps the best combine performance of any player. He has potentially dominant tools, but he hasn’t linked them up into truly excellent performance just yet. He may never be much of a playdriver but could thrive on the wing of a puck dominant center. Even if it seems like there is untapped potential with Honzek, his data supports a selection in the range of Seattle’s first pick. He’d also inject a bit more size into Seattle’s prospect pipeline.

21. Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury Wolves, OHL*

LH | Age: 17 | HT: 73.5 | WT: 200 | 27 G | 55 A | 57 GP

Musty is no. 12 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 9 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Musty has an excellent shot from range, distributes quite well off of the rush and does a great job of creating space for himself. His ability to create consistently at 5v5 is a credit to how well he handles pressure. Musty will take advantage of tight lanes when looking to thread the needle and will look to complete drop passes when hitting a wall.” – Josh Tessler

Notes: Musty would check a lot of boxes for the Kraken. His point production stacks up against past high draft picks from the OHL. He has the size, shot, and playmaking ability to thrive in the top half of an NHL lineup. He is also one of the youngest players in the draft. Some scouts faulted his engagement and defense, though others reported that these aspects of his game improved as his draft season progressed. His skating may be the biggest question mark, but his physical profile and skill creates an avenue to a bottom-six role in the NHL even if the skating doesn’t come around.

25. Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna Rockets, WHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 69.5 | WT: 175 | 40 G | 56 A | 58 GP

Cristall is no. 8 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 10 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s View: “Andrew Cristall might be one of the most skilled puckhandlers in this draft class. He’s an absolute wizard with the puck, as he is able to put defenders on their asses. Cristall is able to set the pace of play with his hockey sense as he’s an excellent puck distributor too. He’s able to find open teammates and feed them an excellent tape to tape pass, to create high danger scoring chances. However, his Skating is an issue. He’s skating stride is pretty wonky, and he’s not the fastest guy out there, despite being 5’10.”” – Rayan Tubecc

Notes: Cristall is a tough one. He has true high-end hockey sense and puck skill, particularly in the offensive zone. But he is small, not particularly mobile, and doesn’t provide much in the way of defense. To draft him in the first round, a team will need to be confident the playmaking will translate. His data suggests he is worthy of the gamble. If a few higher-ranked players aren’t available for the Kraken in the late first round, Cristall is intriguing, but scouts suggest he needs to make progress with his skating to have any chance. If he hits, the reward could be huge because he is good at helping his team do the hardest thing in the sport: score.

26. Gavin Brindley, C, University of Michigan, NCAA

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 68 | WT: 168 | 12 G | 26 A | 41 GP

Brindley is no. 14 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 29 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Brindley is a high-motor player who excels on the defensive side of the puck. He’s a tenacious forechecker and reliable in defensive zone coverage.” – Joey Padmanabhan

Notes: Brindley excelled at a higher level of competition by impacting the small areas of the game all over the ice. And, beyond that, his scoring production at the University of Michigan is not far off from what Matty Beniers produced. The question about Brindley is whether he can generate these results at the NHL level at his small stature without high-end foot speed. I like the player, but his profile has more questions than I would like for a first-round prospect.

27. Mikhail Gulyayev, LD, Omskie Yastreby, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 170 | 4 G | 31 A | 39 GP

Gulyayev is no. 11 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 18 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “A dynamic skater with good puck skills and high-end passing ability, Gulyayev is one of the better puck movers in this draft. The fact he’s under 5-foot-11 and the Russian risk factor are going to come into consideration as to where he goes. . . . On skill, there’s enough of a dynamic element there to make him look like the undersized defensemen that find a role in the NHL, likely in the back half of an NHL rotation.” – Chris Peters

Notes: Gulyayev produced at nearly a point-per-game pace in the MHL. Across the board, scouts raved about his mobility, but he faces questions about his size. To a lesser extent there were also questions about his hockey sense, since it seemed he should be able to dominate his league more than he did with his physical skill set. There is also the uncertainty associated with being a Russian player. If he can survive the NHL game at his size, he may be a strong value for whoever selects him in the late first (or early second) round.

28. Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars, WHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70.5 | WT: 180 | 27 G | 78 A | 77 GP

Heidt is no. 18 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 14 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Riley Heidt is an extremely dynamic and exciting playmaker to watch. He’s an explosive skater with great agility and strong edges, being a factor in transition and in the offensive zone. He’s a remarkable puck distributor as he has the vision to find the passing lanes with ease and is very deceptive with the puck. He has an underrated shot and has the presence and mindset to always pressure defenders to force them into making a mistake, allowing him to pounce on the loose puck and create a counterattack. His work ethic shows every shift and is always making a difference.” – Peter Baracchini

Notes: The production was there at the junior level to be a mid-first-round pick. He is a very good playmaker and elite power-play producer. But Heidt isn’t imposing in stature, nor does he strike fear into his opponents with blazing outside speed, so there is some concern about whether he has necessary carrying skills. Some scouts doubt his ability to stay at center, but others see a physical player and a hard worker with a detailed game that could get the most out of his physical tools and stick there. Heidt strikes me as a strong fallback option for the Kraken in the first round if other preferred targets have been selected.

29. Bradly Nadeau, LW, Penticton Vees, BCHL*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 70.25 | WT: 160 | 62 G | 86 A | 71 GP

Nadeau is no. 28 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 27 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “[Nadeau] has a top 5 shot in the class, good handling, improvable skating, a good motor, and high-end awareness at both ends of the ice, not to mention an improving playmaking game featuring frequent one-touch passes, or flashes of a high pace of play, or even his late birthday which gives him a long runway. I see a path for Nadeau to become a needle-moving top-six forward, but it will require patience and a proactive development staff.” – Sebastian High

Notes: Nadeau is an intriguing boom option for a team drafting in the late first round. He has everything a team could want in a wing scorer, including a shot that might trail only Connor Bedard for the finest in the class. Questions on his projection return to his lower level of competition in the BCHL and his decision to commit to the University of Maine, which has not turned out many successful NHL players recently. He is also a smaller player, checking in at only 160 pounds. But he tested well athletically at the combine, which may be an indicator he is a strong enough athlete to succeed at the NHL level at his size.

33. Lukas Dragicevic, RD, Tri-City Americans, WHL*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 194 | 15 G | 64 A | 74 GP

Dragicevic is no. 19 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 8 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “When it comes to offensive defensemen, he’s the cream of the crop. There simply aren’t any others who are as dangerous as he is from the offensive blueline onward. When he gets the puck on his stick opposing defenders often start to second guess themselves because there are so many different ways that they might get beat. Dragicevic possesses elusive footwork and slick hands . . . . It’s his off puck play that is by far the most concerning, though. He can get absolutely lost in his own end at times, and worse yet, will often completely shut off his effort engine, failing to play the body or get his stick in lanes at key times.” – McKeen’s Draft Guide

Notes: His offensive production from the blue line has been elite. Critiques of his game focus on his defense, particularly his rush defense, but he is relatively new to the position, and it strikes me he has a solid chance to improve there given his solid size and skating. My hesitation on targeting Dragicevic (or Gulyayev) in the first round relates back to positional value. High-end forwards are hard to find and typically deliver the most value in the game. Setting aside a few truly transcendent players, a team is capping its upside by drafting on defense in the first round. Add in the significant probability that Dragicevic settles in as a bottom-four guy and a bit of a defensive liability and I can see the arguments against using a first-round pick on the player. If better options are selected, or the Kraken trade back, I could see it. He is the (attainable) defenseman I like the most for Seattle. The offensive potential is significant.

Second-round prospects

36. Jaydon Perron, RW, Chicago Steel, USHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 69 | WT: 166 | 28 G | 50 A | 67 GP

Scout’s view: Perron is no. 30 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 37 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Jayden Perron . . . displays great speed, patience and IQ with the puck, making moves at a quick pace to constantly fool opponents. He’s great at drawing them in to free up space and connect with teammates in the open ice. He needs to add more strength, but his upside and skillset is definitely there.” – Peter Baracchini

Notes: Another on a long list of undersized, scoring forwards at the top of this draft, Perron strikes me as perhaps a half step below Brindley, but a half step above Pinelli, Barkey, and others. The production was very good. If he slips into the mid-second round, the Kraken should have keen interest because his upside outstrips most forwards who could be available there (save perhaps for Koehn Ziemmer). But I don’t view him as a first-round option for Seattle.

44. Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George Cougars, WHL*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72.25 | WT: 210 | 44 G | 52 A | 78 GP

Ziemmer is no. 22 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 28 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Sniper’s release, small-area skill, off-puck instincts, and off-the-pass shooting – Ziemmer looks the part of an NHL goalscorer. He zips shots around defenders, pump-faking and toe-dragging to create that little extra space for the release. With perfect timing, he spins off checks and gets open for deflections, rebounds, and flashy in-tight moves. . . . [Ziemmer] will have a much smaller margin for error than his peers because of skating. His stride is wide, hunched, and generates little power. His edges suffer.” – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: As a high-end offensive talent, he is a prime target in the second round should he slide down the board a bit. There is a red flag in his profile–his skating–but some scouts think he could still make it to the NHL in a bottom-six and power play role with only moderate progress in that area.

47. Beau Akey, RD, Barrie Colts, OHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 175 | 13 G | 39 A | 79 GP

Akey is no. 43 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 56 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “While not overly physical, which is something he needs to work on, Akey has become one of the most successful defenders in this draft in all areas of the ice. Starting defensively, Akey has a good defensive stick and awareness to position himself well and push players to the outside. He’s always aware of developing plays and boasts good defensive hockey sense. In transition, Akey has no problem skating through the neutral zone and taking it wide to get an entry, but he’s also made a lot of great stick to stick passes in high-pace situations for clean entries too.” – Gavin Chiasson

Notes: Akey has been praised as one of the best rush defenders in the class. Also successful in transitions to offense, with plus skating, he has strengths that match up well with the offensive game. His point production isn’t quite at the level of some other options on defense in this range, but his other strengths make him a viable option here, particularly given Seattle’s lack of depth at right defense.

49. Luca Cagnoni, LD, Portland Winterhawks, WHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 69 | WT: 182 | 18 G | 53 A | 76 GP

Cagnoni is no. 23 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 22 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Cagnoni is one of the top offensive talents on the blue line this year, and possesses multiple plus assets that you look for in a top offensive defenseman. Cagnoni is a very mobility and shifty skater, able to cut through the neutral zone with possession of the puck or jump into the attack from the offensive blue line with ease. He’s a field general at the top of the powerplay . . . with his ability to command the play in the offensive zone and find teammates with difficult passes. Cagnoni is also a very strong shooter, as he can get the puck through from the blue line or bury pucks from distance . . . .” – Brandon Holmes

Notes: Cagnoni could slide on draft day due to his size. At 5-foot-9, he will be off draft boards for some teams. On the other hand, scouts have indicated he is a legitimate defensive player at the junior level. Scouts said the same thing about the 5-foot-10 Ty Nelson last year before Seattle drafted Nelson at no. 68 in 2022. Seattle does not appear philosophically opposed to drafting smaller defensemen, but drafting Cagnoni would mean a significant investment in undersized blueliners in back-to-back drafts. I think it is a legitimate question whether you could have both Nelson and Cagnoni in the same defense corps long term. That said, I’m firmly in the camp of drafting the best player available. And if Cagnoni is still there for Seattle in the second round, particularly at no. 57, I would strongly support selecting him. His movement and puck skills are borderline high end.

52. Etienne Morin, LD, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 180 | 23 G | 66 A | 79 GP

Morin is no. 57 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 17 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Morin in the offensive zone is fantastic. He has great deception on the blue line and creates passing lanes with the puck on his stick. He’s super offensive and operated as almost a fourth forward when he was on the ice in terms of creating offense. However, Morin trying to escape forechecking pressure or making a pass under the threat of being hit was cringeworthy. His gap control wasn’t great and didn’t separate players from the puck at the QMJHL level, which made me feel like he’d struggle to be a positive defensive player in the NHL.”  – Austin Garret

Notes: The production was elite from the blue line, but, similar to evaluations of Ty Nelson last year, there is some “go it yourself” in his game that leaves scouts questioning whether his production will translate against tighter checking in the NHL. If he can make adjustments, he seems like a reasonable bet as a lower-pair offensive defenseman and power play quarterback. If he hits, his high-end upside might be similar to Vince Dunn with a bit less defense.

53. Alex Ciernik, LW, Södertälje SK, HockeyAllsvenskan

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70.25 | WT: 174 | 3 G | 9 A | 28 GP

Ciernik is no. 35 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 59 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “[T]he multifaceted winger is most notable for his combination of straightaway and shifty speed, and stickhandling skills that make the most of rushing attacks. He clearly has a lot of confidence in his wrist shot, making heavy use of it. . . . Always happy to shoot while adept at setting up teammates, Ciernik is still trying to find a proper balance between the two, sometimes making poor decisions that lead to turnovers. Otherwise, it’s clear Ciernik understands that hitting and physicality are part of the game, and he has no problem engaging himself in that capacity.”  – McKeen’s Draft Guide

Notes: Ciernik has NHL bloodlines (his father, Ivan, played 89 NHL games) and a solid track record of pre-draft production against higher competition in HockeyAllsvenskan. Scouts differ on how he’ll tolerate the physical game at the NHL level, noting much of his success so far has been speed-driven on larger international rinks. But if he can match NHL physicality, he should have a solid “backup” path to the NHL as a bottom-six speed and energy player, even if his skill game plateaus.

55. Hunter Brzustewicz, RD, Kitchener Rangers, OHL*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 71.75 | WT: 190 | 6 G | 55 A | 77 GP

Brzustewicz is no. 44 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 30 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “The four way mobility (especially his edgework and lateral quickness) is excellent . . . . As a puck mover, Brzustewicz stands out because of his vision and decision making. Poised under pressure, he always seems to make the correct play with the puck on his stick. . . . I’m a little leary of the projection, but he passed the eye test almost every night in the second half showing great progression.” – Brock Otten

Notes: Scouts describe a well-rounded profile that was trending up toward the end of the 2022-23 season. Scouting critiques point to his underlying athleticism and engagement level, but his skating skill seems solid enough for him to project as solid in the transition game. While he may not have a dynamic element that makes a top-of-the-lineup projection likely, he checks a lot of boxes for Seattle both from a position (right defense) and value perspective in the mid-second round. He’s a player I’m watching closely for the Kraken at pick no. 50 or 52.

56. Lenni Hameenaho, RW, Ässät, Liiga*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 185 | 12 G | 13 A | 59 GP

Hameenaho is no. 54 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 24 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “[T]here’s no doubt about Hämeenaho’s best quality being his intelligence. He’s an extremely smart off-puck player at both ends of the rink. . . . His instincts around the net are simply unmatched in this year’s class of Finnish prospects. The same qualities also allow him to break up plays defensively, foreseeing the developing plays in advance and positioning himself accordingly. On the other side of the coin is Hämeenaho’s skating. It’s a problem with both the mechanics and the output. There’s a notable lack of ankle flexion and an ugly tilt at the hips, resulting in a hunched posture. Both the top speed and the acceleration are lacking.”  – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: Hameenaho is routinely lauded for strong intelligence and hockey sense, making the right plays without the puck consistently. Otherwise he has a solid-but-not-superlative skill set across the board and is burdened by below-average skating.  Several scouts suggest he’s close to being ready to take on a third-line role in the NHL right now, but doubt he has much more upside beyond that. While this is seemingly meant as a criticism, I don’t see it that way. If Hameenaho caps out as a third-line player, that is an excellent result for a second-round pick. His production at the highest level Finnish pro league at his age makes him a prime target in my NHLe calculation. At the very least he’d be a high-floor counterbalance against other high-upside picks if the Kraken selected him in the second round.

59. Kalan Lind, LW, Red Deer Rebels, WHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72.5 | WT: 158 | 18 G | 31 A | 53 GP

Lind is no. 40 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 68 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Despite average size, Lind plays with jump and edge. He’s a fierce competitor and there’s a real nastiness to his game . . . . The question will be if his offensive skillset is high-end enough to warrant a high pick. There’s no doubt his hard-nosed play and ability to get to the interior is going to win him some fans, but the upside projection is a bit more difficult given than Lind does not have natural high-end puck skills.”  – Chris Peters

Notes: He is the brother of Kraken forward Kole Lind. Some scouts question his proper role, as he’s been used as a bottom-six center and as a top-six wing with mixed results. Regardless, as McKeen’s summarizes, he gets credit for “his speed, versatility, hockey sense, physicality and pest-like edge.” That last attribute will sound familiar to anyone who watched Kole at the AHL level these last two years.

60. Aydar Suniev, LW, Penticton Vees, BCHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 73.5 | WT: 192 | 54 G | 59 A | 65 GP

Suniev is no. 29 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 58 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “One of the craftiest playmakers in the entire draft, Suniev is a physical monster, operating at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. . . . [He is] able to layer a puck through even the thickest of coverages . . . . He wasn’t a one-dimensional playmaker, though. A proactive processor, Suniev always has the next pass option hardwired in his brain before he even collects the puck. . . . Suniev’s chest-to-ground stride is the biggest caveat of his entire game. The stride is so prohibitive that it turns a player who honestly has first-round quality tools into a later option in the draft. Will he be able to use all the protection and little adaptations to beat professionals without improving his mechanics? It’s a valid question.”  – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: His skating seems like an almost disqualifying red flag, and I omitted him on an initial draft of this list, but his offensive package of skills gets strong enough reviews, despite the projection from a lower level of competition, that he may be a worthy gamble at the end of the second round, depending on the other options available. 

61. Luca Pinelli, C, Ottawa 67’s, OHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 68.75 | WT: 167 | 36 G | 45 A | 78 GP

Pinelli is no. 46 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 45 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Despite his 5-foot-9, 167-pound frame, Luca Pinelli shows no fear in his game as he’s always competing and going into the hard areas to battle for the puck. He’s always engaging for possession and digging for loose pucks and when he gets a hold of it, he’s always driving hard to the middle of the ice. He has a great shot and is a smart and crisp playmaker as he’s always creating plays and generating chances. ” – Peter Baracchini

Notes: According to scouts, Pinelli brings a plus shot and a relentless attitude hunting the puck and getting into scoring positions. Each attribute provides him an avenue to an NHL role, even if his size is well below standard and his skating is just passable.

64. Roman Kantserov, RW, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 69 | WT: 176 | 28 G | 29 A | 48 GP

Kantserov is no. 34 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 40 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Kantserov is a creative winger that excels in a playmaking role. He has a knack for dishing the puck out and creating opportunities for his teammates. His vision stands out in every game, making cross-ice passes and feeding the slot with regularity. While he’s not a powerful, overly fast skater, he is extremely light on his feet, dancing around opponents and showing off quick cuts to create space. He’s a good puckhandler as well, navigating traffic, and protecting the puck well from attackers.” – McKeen’s Draft Guide

Notes: One of a half-dozen middle-round options out of Russia who will likely be pushed down the board more so than their data justifies. The Kraken haven’t gone into this pool of prospects yet, particularly since the war in Ukraine began, but have also said Russian players aren’t off their board necessarily. It will be interesting to see if the Kraken take the plunge this year.

66. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights, OHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 68 | WT: 174 | 33 G | 50 A | 81 GP

Barkey is no. 51 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 53 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Barkey is an incredibly fun player to watch. He has a constantly running motor as he plays a quick, high-tempo game every night. He is a strong slayer with above-average speed and edgework, making him a shifty forward. Barkey has also shown he can be a reliable two-way centerman through his retrievals, active stick, and neutral zone defence. However, like most scouts, I see him as a winger at the next level. Barkey’s size is obviously going to raise a red flag. However, with his skill set, I do not see it being as big of an issue as it is for some other undersized players. It does affect his stride with shorter extensions, but he has shown the ability to work around that and still be an effective skater.” – Curtis Rines

Notes: He was a linemate of Ryan Winterton in London this season. Reading Barkey’s scouting reports alone is a joy. He’s reported to play with a non-stop motor that probably would resonate with a fanbase used to rooting for Yanni Gourde. Compared with Pinelli, another smaller OHL forward ranked in this range, most scouts give Pinelli the edge in offensive skill and Barkey the edge in skating. He seems like he might have a narrower road to the NHL unless his offensive game takes a step forward, but I’ll be watching.

68. Coulson Pitre, RW, Flint Firebirds, OHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72.75 | WT: 170 | 27 G | 38 A | 65 GP

Pitre is no. 41 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 54 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Looking for a wrecking ball? Pitre hits everything, fights for body positioning with every limb, and never gives up on a play. How about a finisher? He’s always in the right place at the right time, able to capitalize with a wrister that blends the pass reception, toe drag around the defender, and release in one smooth motion. What about a down low playmaker? That’s Pitre, who uses those physical skills to possession before sliding a backhand pass to the slot.

“Pitre also brings defensive value with his endless energy and aggression, as well as some transition skills through his place-and- chase game, handling skills, and flashes of deception.

“The other side is that while Pitre is well rounded, he might not have that one special dimension. His passes are inaccurate and often reactionary. An upright stance limits just about everything, from his agility to puck protection. Without improving the skating, there’s a chance his physical game will be rendered ineffective in the NHL.” – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: Scouts remark on a power forward game paired with strong skating skill and seem to call for patience on the production, but his draft season justifies a pick in the back half of the second round based on my NHLe calculation, and other data analysts have him even higher. Scouts hint at a ceiling on his upside, but he has a range of tools that could open paths to a variety of NHL roles, including as a bottom-line grinder if his other skills don’t continue to develop. This sounds like a worthwhile bet in the second or third round.

70. Andrew Strathmann, LD, Youngstown Phantoms, USHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70.75 | WT: 185 | 6 G | 39 A | 65 GP

Strathmann is no. 64 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 51 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Andrew Strathmann is a lanky, quick-moving defenseman that loves joining the rush. He has strong puck-handling and vision, and a knack for risky plays, making him an exciting piece of any offensive play. He’s helped along on defense by a decent reach, although that aspect of his game is noticeably weaker. If he can boost it up, his exciting playmaking ability could provide a unique pro ceiling.” – Gabe Foley

Notes: Scouts noted a wide variety of skills in Strathmann, but not the desired level of consistency. His scouting reports were a bit frustrating to read, noting high-end skill in some areas, perhaps near the top of the North American class in some respects, but also poor decision making and play that put his team on the backfoot. It reminded me a bit of my feelings about Vince Dunn’s game in 2021-22. Of course, if Strathmann becomes the 2021-22 version of Vince Dunn, it’s a home run pick in the late second (or third) round.

71. Jacob Fowler, G, Youngstown Phantoms, USHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 74 | WT: 201 | .927 save % | 49 GP

Fowler is no. 136 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 36 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Fowler does an excellent job of widening his stance in the crouch when facing a threat in high danger. He’s also quick with his pads and can slam the door shut in the butterfly by shifting over with his pads. While he does do a good job of widening himself and quickly reseting in butterfly position, I’d like to see him work on extending his glove to take away space top shelf.” – Josh Tessler

Notes: The goaltender position, perhaps more than any other, is a long-term projection game. As a general rule, goalies have a slower developmental road–with many more potholes along the way–than skaters. Studies suggest that drafting a goalie high tends to be a poor investment, whereas drafting a goalie in the middle or late rounds may be a good idea relative to the skaters that remain available. I haven’t gotten a sense of the Kraken approach to identifying and evaluating goaltenders yet, other than to note generally that (1) the team has drafted one in each of its first two drafts and (2) the team’s Finnish scout was a goaltender and likely had a hand in identifying Niklas Kokko (which is looking like a good pick so far). Fowler’s data is good, particularly in my NHLe calculation. He stopped pucks, but some scouts didn’t see a big or athletic player likely to excel. I’m inclined to think the Kraken may lean towards the international goalie pool (more on that below), but Fowler is my favorite of the North American options.

Middle round prospects

73. Noah Dower Nilsson, LW, Frölunda HC J20, J20 Nationell

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 71.75 | WT: 185 | 26 G | 30 A | 39 GP

Dower Nilsson is no. 55 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 61 in our NHLe calculation.

77. Quinton Burns, LD, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 179 | 2 G | 27 A | 54 GP

Burns is no. 54 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 80 in our NHLe calculation.

78. Alexander Rykov, RW, Chelmet Chelyabinsk, VHL*

LH | Age: 17 | HT: 71 | WT: 170 | 4 G | 7 A | 20 GP

Rykov is no. 47 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 44 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Rykov is a coach’s player. He plays with high intensity, he plays a very intelligent game, and he brings a strong, two-way presence. He plays a very calm, mature game that may not jump off the ice and certainly won’t jump off the scoresheet, but he’s a player you want to have on the ice with the game on the line. He’s tenacious in his puck pursuit, utilizing his stick to force turnovers. He’s not going to try anything fancy, so you can rely on him to make simple, smart choices when the puck is on his stick.” – McKeen’s Draft Guide

Notes: His point production alone is worthy of a selection in the top two rounds, but it is clear Rykov is more than that. Scouts credit a strong, simple two-way game. As a Russian player he may slip into the middle rounds, which would make him an intriguing value proposition.

80. Tristan Bertucci, LD, Flint Firebirds, OHL*

LH | Age: 17 | HT: 74 | WT: 179 | 12 G | 43 A | 70 GP

Bertucci is no. 37 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 19 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Bertucci’s a lockdown defender with a budding transition game. He gets on his check early, matches opponents’ footwork along the boards, and ties up sticks around the net. Physicality and pace kills plays across the rink, and make him a formidable 1-on-1 defender.

“With the puck, Bertucci’s primarily a shooter. He generates offence through point shots for deflections and rebounds with points shots . . . . On breakouts, he shows more advanced skills, like deception, weaving routes, and clever passes through opponents. Bertucci’s limited by his inability to manage pressure at this stage, as Elite Prospects Dir. of North American scouting Mitch Brown explains: ‘With pressure, he makes blind passes, rims pucks to no one, flings them out with passing options. And he struggles to keep positioning on retrievals. Right now, he struggles to get space – and he needs space to be effective.’”  – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: One of the players I’ll be watching closely for the Kraken, his data supports a selection in the top two rounds. Add to that quality size, young age, and on-ice performance that was trending up toward the end of the season, and there is a lot to recommend selecting Bertucci, even if it needs to be at pick no. 57. Critiques of Bertucci often returned to his performance with the puck under pressure, but some noted improvements as the season moved along.

87. Gavin McCarthy, RD, Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL*

Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 181 | 8 G | 19 A | 42 GP

McCarthy is no. 77 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 49 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “The right-handed defender seems to have all the tools in place to become a steady, regular NHLer. He’s solid in his own end, going down to his positioning (most of the time), his active stick, and his impressive four-way mobility. His skating especially stands out as a trait that should carry over extremely well to the next levels. There are times when he can puck chase, but it’s important to note his age here. He has a great deal of development time left. He also brings an excellent level of physicality, not afraid to mix it up with anyone. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, he already has a good frame but should continue to bulk up and be even better in this area.” – McKeen’s Draft Guide

Notes: Another defenseman that is high on my list for Seattle (along with Bertucci), he checks the box of being right handed (which is an area of limited depth for Seattle). His data more than justifies his draft position, and scouts saw an emerging physical defenseman with a quality defensive game. Going to college in the fall, he will have plenty of time to develop. 

91. Aiden Fink, RW, Brooks Bandits, AJHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 69 | WT: 152 | 49 G | 61 A | 69 GP

Fink is no. 83 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 176 in our NHLe calculation.

99. Connor Levis, RW, Kamloops Blazers, WHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 74 | WT: 194 | 28 G | 45 A | 82 GP

Levis is no. 66 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 77 in our NHLe calculation.

106. Tanner Ludtke, C, Lincoln Stars, USHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 185 | 37 G | 36 A | 66 GP

Ludtke is no. 72 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 38 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “The 6’0 forward can look a bit awkward in his skating mechanics and his pace of play is a question mark. . . . He’s very involved as a one-touch puck transporter, is one of the top shot generators in the USHL in my data set, and has enough skill that his pace doesn’t hinder him from making plays. The University of Nebraska-Omaha [where Lutdke is committed for 2023-24] . . . hasn’t produced much in terms of NHL talent recently, but I have a hard time not advocating for him to be on this list given his productivity both in counting and micro stats. – Austin Garret

Notes: The scouting reports paint the picture of an unfinished and uncertain product, but the point production, with size to match it, from the center position is hard to ignore in the middle rounds of the draft.

113. Yegor Sidorov, RW, Saskatoon Blades, WHL

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 72 | WT: 176 | 49 G | 46 A | 69 GP

Sidorov is no. 164 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 94 in our NHLe calculation.

116. Yegor Rimashevsky, RW, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 75 | WT: 198 | 13 G | 14 A | 36 GP

Rimashevsky is no. 86 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 100 in our NHLe calculation.

118. Matthew Soto, RW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

RH | Age: 17 | HT: 71 | WT: 168 | 15 G | 27 A | 54 GP

Soto is no. 90 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 76 in our NHLe calculation.

127. Daniil Karpovich, LD, Avto Yekaterinburg, MHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 75 | WT: 209 | 11 G | 26 A | 54 GP

Karpovich is no. 79 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 46 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “He’s a big 6-foot-3, 210-pound blueliner that shined with Avto in the MHL this year. He has produced points everywhere he has gone, and he might even be one of the better skaters above 6-foot-2.” – Sean Ellis

Notes: The offensive tools and size-speed combination seem to be there for Karpovich, but some scouts question his ability to link those skills up with playable hockey sense. The point production at his size is intriguing in the later rounds though.

130. Yegor Klimovich, RW, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk, MHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 69 | WT: 159 | 20 G | 32 A | 41 GP

Klimovich is no. 56 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 23 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “He plays bigger than he is; his feet are quick, but he’s not the fastest guy in the world, and he often relies on strength and puck protection mechanics to navigate around pressure, which works at the junior level, but won’t be so easy against better competition. But he’s bursting with offensive creativity and skill . . . . There’s much risk of his game not translating, for sure, but I can also easily see a world where he’s looked at as a massive steal in a few years.” –  Gray Matter

Notes: The point production indicates a top draft pick and scouts report he plays with quality pace, even if he doesn’t have truly high end speed as is desired for a smaller player. Some scouts noted his easy scoring context in the least competitive division of the MHL and questioned whether his game will translate. The high end production makes him a worthwhile gamble in the middle of the draft.

132. Juha Jatkola, G, KalPa, Liiga*

LH | Age: 20 | HT: 73 | WT: 176 | .905 save % | 43 GP

Jatkola is no. 180 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 32 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “He lacks the massive frame that a lot of scouts look for, but makes up for that with an intelligent, aggressive approach to facing shooters. . . . He understands the importance of staying in the frame and reserves his bold movements for opportunities when he can force shooters into making mistakes. Playing in a professional league for an extended period of time for the first time in his career seems to have paid off dividends for his situational awareness. . . . 

Strong skating ability in regards to both his strength and edgework are also key components to Jatkola’s game.”  – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: Jatkola is my favorite goalie for the Kraken in this draft for two reasons. First, he is Finnish, which may dovetail with the team’s goalie expertise in its scouting ranks. Second, Jatkola showed that he could perform as an above average regular at a high professional level (Liiga). Junior goalies are years away from reaching that stage. So, theoretically, Jatkola should carry less uncertainty and a shorter development path. Still, he’d likely be a year-or-two away from coming to North America.

Late round prospects

133. Mazden Leslie, D, Vancouver Giants, WHL*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 181 | 12 G | 40 A | 70 GP

Leslie is no. 61 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 31 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “He’s [an] offensive minded [defenseman] with good shooting instincts and solid tape to tape passer. He’s got the potential to be a PP QB in the NHL, however his defensive game is a weak point. He’s very passive in the defensive zone, and when pressured, makes some ill-advised decisions with the puck.” – Rayan Tubeec

Notes: The point production paints the picture of a pick in the top two rounds, but the hockey sense and defensive play leave a lot to be desired, according to scouts. He’s a worthy mid-to-late round gamble if he remains available, particularly since he brings solid size and a right handed shot to pair with his junior production.

137. Tanner Adams, RW, Tri-City Storm, USHL

RH | Age: 17 | HT: 71 | WT: 183 | 13 G | 25 A | 53 GP

Adams is no. 111 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 92 in our NHLe calculation.

138. Cam Squires, RW, Cape Breton Eagles, QMJHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 161 | 30 G | 40 A | 71 GP

Squires is no. 109 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 90 in our NHLe calculation.

147. Rodwin Dionicio, LD, Niagara IceDogs, OHL

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 74 | WT: 205 | 16 G | 35 A | 52 GP

Dionicio is no. 286 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 81 in our NHLe calculation.

158. Cole Brown, LW, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 75 | WT: 170 | 19 G | 26 A | 66 GP

Brown is no. 132 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 111 in our NHLe calculation.

159. Angus MacDonell, C, Sarnia Sting, OHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 172 | 32 G | 14 A | 70 GP

Brown is no. 118 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 146 in our NHLe calculation.

161. Jimmy Clark, LW, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 179 | 19 G | 29 A | 64 GP

Clark is no. 123 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 132 in our NHLe calculation.

168. Tommaso De Luca, C, Spokane Chiefs, WHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 172 | 16 G | 33 A | 65 GP

De Luca is no. 117 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 125 in our NHLe calculation.

169. Kalem Parker, RD, Victoria Royals, WHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 187 | 6 G | 32 A | 68 GP

Parker is no. 122 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 105 in our NHLe calculation.

171. Thomas Milic, G, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL

LH | Age: 20 | HT: 72 | WT: 174 | .930 save % | 52 GP

Milic is no. 396 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 233 in our NHLe calculation.

Notes: Will this happen with the Kraken? Probably not. But I’m rooting for him.

173. Ryan Conmy, RW, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL*

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 185 | 34 G | 30 A | 62 GP

Conmy is no. 49 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 63 in our NHLe calculation.

Scout’s view: “Conmy’s a precision shooter, crafty playmaker, and inside lane attacker. Give him any gap, however small, and he instantly cuts inside, slipping around opponents as necessary. He enters every board battle with a couple of shoulder checks to plot his escape. If he can’t handle through traffic, he connects with a backhand or slip pass through opponents.

When Conmy’s not on the puck, he’s getting open and creating space. He dips behind defenders and sneaks around traffic to pop into space as the shot comes. With well-timed dashes to the net, he creates space behind him. And he gobbles up every loose puck with a two-metre radius, cementing his 200-foot player status.”  – Elite Prospects Draft Guide

Notes: Perhaps my favorite sleeper draft prospect in this class, his data profile resembles a top pick, and the scouts seem generally complimentary of his play. Critiques focus on his skating mechanics and overall speed, but similar things can be said of prospects ranked much higher.

174. Nikita Nedopyokin, C, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 187 | 17 G | 22 A | 47 GP

Nedopyokin is no. 80 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 84 in our NHLe calculation.

176. Ty Higgins, RD, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 187 | 13 G | 28 A | 68 GP

Higgins is no. 127 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 164 in our NHLe calculation.

180. Ivan Anoshko, C, Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk, MHL*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 168 | 21 G | 33 A | 55 GP

Anoshko is no. 74 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 69 in our NHLe calculation.

181. Hudson Thornton, LD, Prince George Cougars, WHL

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 71 | WT: 181 | 25 G | 54 A | 78 GP

Thornton is no. 313 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 119 in our NHLe calculation.

183. Vadim Moroz, RW, Dinamo Minsk, KHL*

RH | Age: 19 | HT: 74 | WT: 185 | 5 G | 9 A | 39 GP

Moroz is no. 144 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 42 in our NHLe calculation.

184. Konstantin Volochko, RD, Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk, MHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 170 | 8 G | 13 A | 48 GP

Volochko is no. 116 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 139 in our NHLe calculation.

193. Oliver Tulk, C, Calgary Hitmen, WHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 68 | WT: 172 | 25 G | 38 A | 73 GP

Tulk is no. 95 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 98 in our NHLe calculation.

195. Artyom Kashtanov, C, Avto Yekaterinburg, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 78 | WT: 190 | 16 G | 28 A | 49 GP

Kashtanov is no. 94 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 60 in our NHLe calculation.

196. Nikita Ishimnikov, RD, Avto Yekaterinburg, MHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 75 | WT: 194 | 13 G | 11 A | 48 GP

Ishimnikov is no. 104 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 96 in our NHLe calculation.

198. Sawyer Mynio, LD, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72.5 | WT: 163 | 6 G | 29 A | 87 GP

Mynio is no. 121 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 191 in our NHLe calculation.

203. Justin Kipkie, LD, Victoria Royals, WHL*

LH | Age: 17 | HT: 76 | WT: 190 | 8 G | 25 A | 67 GP

Kipkie is no. 153 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 86 in our NHLe calculation.

212. Oskar Asplund, LD, Almtuna IS, HockeyAllsvenskan*

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 71 | WT: 172 | 7 G | 24 A | 51 GP

Asplund is no. 223 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 33 in our NHLe calculation.

216. Stanislav Yarovoy, RW, Vityaz Moscow Region, KHL

RH | Age: 19 | HT: 71 | WT: 183 | 9 G | 7 A | 48 GP

Yarovoy is no. 278 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 75 in our NHLe calculation.

231. Benjamin Poitras, C, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL

RH | Age: 17 | HT: 71 | WT: 176 | 15 G | 24 A | 63 GP

Poitras is no. 143 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 153 in our NHLe calculation.

245. Magomed Sharakanov, LD, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 201 | 8 G | 28 A | 50 GP

Sharakanov is no. 85 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 50 in our NHLe calculation.

246. Bogdan Konyushkov, D, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL*

RH | Age: 20 | HT: 71 | WT: 176 | 2 G | 28 A | 74 GP

Konyushkov is no. 194 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 20 in our NHLe calculation.

251. Yegor Vinogradov, C, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL

LH | Age: 20 | HT: 74 | WT: 181 | 7 G | 12 A | 63 GP

Vinogradov is no. 309 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 116 in our NHLe calculation.

265. Kaden Shahan, RW, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 71 | WT: 165 | 21 G | 12 A | 57 GP

Shahan is no. 130 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 192 in our NHLe calculation.

Notes: Shahan is the only Washington-born player with a decent shot at being drafted in 2023. Shahan is from Everett.

266. German Tochilkin, LW, Spartak Moskva, KHL

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 75 | WT: 179 | 4 G | 2 A | 29 GP

Tochilkin is no. 304 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 110 in our NHLe calculation.

268. Ben Robertson, LD, Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 183 | 4 G | 42 A | 64 GP

Robertson is no. 102 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 62 in our NHLe calculation.

274. Maxim Fedotov, RD, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL

RH | Age: 21 | HT: 70 | WT: 170 | 11 G | 22 A | 74 GP

Fedotov is no. 247 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 52 in our NHLe calculation.

277. Owen Outwater, LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 75 | WT: 170 | 16 G | 25 A | 62 GP

Outwater is no. 159 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 140 in our NHLe calculation.

285. Matvei Maximov, C, MHK Dynamo Moskva, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 179 | 22 G | 24 A | 56 GP

Maximov is no. 124 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 99 in our NHLe calculation.

291. Elmeri Laakso, LD, SaiPa, Liiga

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 73 | WT: 185 | 4 G | 7 A | 32 GP

Laakso is no. 250 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 66 in our NHLe calculation.

307. Yegor Smirnov, C, Almaz Cherepovets, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 163 | 23 G | 21 A | 48 GP

Smirnov is no. 89 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 70 in our NHLe calculation.

317. Pier-Olivier Roy, LD, Québec Remparts, QMJHL

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 70 | WT: 170 | 32 G | 58 A | 85 GP

Roy is no. 343 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 158 in our NHLe calculation.

323. Lucas Moore, RD, Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL

RH | Age: 18 | HT: 70 | WT: 174 | 5 G | 29 A | 71 GP

Moore is no. 150 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 123 in our NHLe calculation.

374. Alexander Suvorov, RW, Severstal Cherepovets, KHL*

LH | Age: 20 | HT: 69 | WT: 159 | 16 G | 12 A | 53 GP

Suvorov is no. 235 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 34 in our NHLe calculation.

390. Peteris Bulans, LD, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 72 | WT: 181 | 7 G | 17 A | 36 GP

Bulans is no. 140 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 97 in our NHLe calculation.

507. Maxim Motorygin, G, HK Tambov, VHL

LH | Age: 20 | HT: 72 | WT: 165 | .918 save % | 47 GP

Motorygin is no. 255 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 67 in our NHLe calculation.

523. Antti Virtanen, C, SaiPa U20, U20 SM-sarja*

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 71 | WT: 181 | 25 G | 29 A | 35 GP

Virtanen is no. 78 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 87 in our NHLe calculation.

528. Tigran Yarulin, RW, HK Sochi, KHL

LH | Age: 20 | HT: 74 | WT: 203 | 3 G | 6 A | 28 GP

Yarulin is no. 291 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 93 in our NHLe calculation.

542. Daniil O. Ivanov, LD, Khimik Voskresensk, VHL

LH | Age: 19 | HT: 77 | WT: 209 | 13 G | 11 A | 56 GP

Ivanov is no. 311 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 117 in our NHLe calculation.

551. Matvei Ladutko, F, Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk, MHL

LH | Age: 18 | HT: 71 | WT: 183 | 16 G | 22 A | 51 GP

Ladutko is no. 100 in our overall analytics ranking. He is no. 120 in our NHLe calculation.

Next up: projecting the 2023 NHL Entry Draft

The NHL Draft is upon us, beginning Wednesday, June 28, at 4:00 pm PT. Between now and then we will return with even more draft content. John Barr will be supplying you with his expectations for the draft and I’ll be delivering a seven round Kraken mock draft. In the meantime, who are you looking for in the draft? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter at @sound_hockey and @deepseahockey.

Local hockey players hit the ice for the 2023 Seattle Puckathon event

by brittanycinderella | Jun 21, 2023 | Uncategorized

The doors of the Sno-King Ice Arena in Snoqualmie, Wash., opened on June 17 and 18 as players warmed up to get involved in the 2023 Seattle Puckathon event. The event consisted of a series of eight teams playing against each other to help raise money to give younger generations a way to live and enjoy the sport, worry-free. All funds raised will go to The One Roof Foundation’s programs that help support underrepresented youth and get them involved with hockey. 

Tournament director David Mosbach organized the event himself. According to Mosbach, the event ran about 16 hours, including games, ice cuts, and warmup times. 

“I love hockey, and it’s given me a lot in my life, my friends, my health, my mental health,” Mosbach said. “I figured the best thing I could do was organize a tournament for charity.” 

According to Mosbach, he was introduced to the One Roof Foundation by Sound Of Hockey‘s own John Barr. Barr was the team organizer for Team Sound Of Hockey in the event. He is also a member of the One Roof Foundation’s board.

“Getting access to hockey for kids is a challenge,” Barr said. “I love hockey, and it’s given me a lot of return and joy in my life.” Team Sound Of Hockey played seven periods in the event.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and a great event, and we can make it bigger and better,” Barr said. “It’s a good time for a good cause.”

Overall, the game slot was for two hours and had a total of 18 players between both teams. Jordan Fitzgibbon was one of the players also involved in the charity event on Barr’s team.

“I hope it gives other people some other outlet or something interesting to do and makes everyone feel welcome to play hockey,” Fitzgibbon said. “Thanks David for organizing the event, it’s been a lot of fun so far.”

The One Roof Foundation is helping the community in more ways than one. Jas Baziuk, the program manager for social impact operations for the Seattle Kraken, attended the event. 

“It’s been really different and really fun,” Baziuk said. “A lot of the work that we’ve been doing so far has been towards people who maybe didn’t know what hockey was. It’s a big part of what One Roof does, is introducing kids and even adults to hockey for the first time.”

This year’s Seattle Puckathon was the first such event organized in conjunction with One Roof, according to Baziuk, but there is a chance for more opportunities to come up in the future. 

“Ultimately I’d like to see the participation double in 10 years… it would require more ice and it would require more families participating, but I think there’s an opportunity there,” Barr said. “I didn’t grow up with hockey, and I fell in love with it as an adult. I’m hoping other people have the opportunity to fall in love with it.”

With the Seattle Kraken now in the National Hockey League for two full seasons, there have been a lot of new and old hockey fans joining together to see where the team will go next. The One Roof Foundation, started by the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, has a goal to ensure all people in the region have a roof over their heads, the ability to enjoy hockey, and fresh air to breathe.

“We’re also working on youth homeless work and environmental justice work and just making everybody in the area feel like they’re a part of our family and have access to the things that everybody else has access to,” Baziuk said. “We’re just trying to be a home for everyone.”

As of the time of writing, the Seattle Puckathon 2023 has raised $11,688.53. Their fundraiser website can be found here.

The 2022-23 Seattle Kraken Post-Mortem

by Darren Brown | Jun 1, 2023 | Uncategorized

Too soon? Nah. We are now two weeks removed from the Seattle Kraken’s Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Based on our completely arbitrary metrics, it feels like sufficient time has now passed, and we can finally put our heads together for the 2022-23 Sound Of Hockey Seattle Kraken Post-Mortem. That’s a long name, but we’ll workshop it to come up with something more snappy for future seasons. 

Let’s get to it. 

What went right for the Seattle Kraken season this season? 

Josh Horton: Depth scoring will likely go down as the prevailing theme of this season, but the emergence of Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn as a bona fide top pair stands out as well. The way both shouldered important minutes–Dunn as a legitimate offensive threat and Larsson as a stabilizing defensive force–settled down the lineup and provided reliability for head coach Dave Hakstol, especially late in the season and in the playoffs.

John Barr: The depth scoring was obviously a key piece in the success of the Kraken season, but part of that was due to the health of the team. Other than Andre Burakovsky, who missed the second half of the season and playoffs with a torn groin, the Kraken were relatively healthy. There were nine Kraken players that had over 80 games played this season, compared to 2021-22 when only two players ended up with 80 games or more. If there were just a couple more injuries in the NHL, the depth might not have been there for the Kraken. The Kraken’s strong depth stopped at the NHL level, and if the team was forced to dip into the AHL for long stretches during the season, the outcomes might have been different. 

Darren Brown: But John, what about Tye Kartye? Ok, maybe one successful callup does not mean the Kraken are deep with emerging talent from their prospect pool, and you’re probably right that depth only exists within the NHL roster and not so much beyond. 

Like both of my colleagues that have already answered, I too am going to allude to the depth of the team, but then call out something different. The players were able to build real belief in themselves this season. They got just enough goaltending and enough timely scoring to put them on a couple long winning streaks that buoyed (shoutout Buoy) their playoff chances, even as they stumbled at times down the stretch. The psyche of this team is very different now than it was at the end of the inaugural season, and that should carry over into next season. Even with tweaks to the lineup, the core group will be back, and it knows it can win now. 

Curtis Isacke: Many have called for the Kraken to name an individual captain, but, from the outside, it seems to me like the veteran leadership on this team was something that went right this season. It is hard to overstate this team’s on-ice accomplishments following a sixty-point inaugural season. The Kraken became only the third team in NHL history to follow a season with 60 or fewer points with a season of 100 or more (joining the 1992-93 Quebec Nordiques and 2006-07 Penguins). The Kraken added some important pieces in the offseason, no doubt, but it would have been all too easy to call an 80 point 2022-23 season a “success.” This team didn’t settle for that. The Kraken were difficult to beat on the road (26-11-4) and resilient in difficult situations, including in the playoffs. It’s a credit to the team’s mindset and buy-in, and that starts with the players who wore the “A” this season.

What went wrong? 

JH: There wasn’t much that went wrong for Seattle this year, but if you had to pick, the Shane Wright debacle stands out. Now, I think in hindsight Seattle did all it could with Wright, who wasn’t quite ready to contribute at the NHL level, but obviously was too good for junior hockey and couldn’t play in the AHL due to the NHL-CHL agreement. However, seeing Wright knocked out early of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs–after being hampered with injuries–and struggling in Coachella Valley even to crack the lineup in the playoffs hasn’t sparked much optimism. 

Now, I don’t think this is any cause for panic. All prospects develop at different paces, and Wright clearly has some hurdles he still needs to clear. Even with his struggles this season, the No. 4 pick in 2022 showed some really positive signs, with a prolific scoring run during his initial conditioning stint in the AHL and a near two-points-per-game scoring pace for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. However, one does wonder if this season really provided a proper season of development for Wright, and for that, I believe this was the biggest organizational shortcoming in 2022 — that dang NHL-CHL agreement! 

DB: I agree wholeheartedly with everything Josh just said. It would have been really nice in this scenario for Wright to just be allowed to go to the AHL and develop, as that was clearly where he belonged. It’s still unclear if he will be dealing with the same issue next season, and if so, it will be an even bigger conundrum for the Kraken than it was in 2022-23. 

CI: The Kraken have a handful of high-end finishers (Andre Burakovsky, Jared McCann, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Daniel Sprong, and Eeli Tolvanen) and facilitators (Jordan Eberle, Alex Wennberg) up front. This seems like a good set of ingredients to build a power play. But it didn’t work out that way in 2022-23. In the regular season, the team ranked tied for 19th in the league with a 19.8 percent conversion rate. In the postseason, the team checked in at 14th (of 16) at 14.3 percent. The raw results from the regular season look mediocre, but some strong puck luck obscures the dreadful shot quality generated by the team. In fact, looking at quality of shot data alone, the power play showed little, if any, improvement from 2022-23 over 2021-22, despite the personnel improvements.

Why is the team struggling? It’s a topic I want to investigate this offseason, but off the cuff, three factors come to mind. First, the team failed to regularly gain possession off of offensive zone draws. Second, the team’s zone entries were inefficient, in part because they were overly reliant on the schemed approach, which can be countered when it is too predictable. And, third, the team was too static in the offensive zone, losing the skating game that brought them success five-on-five. In watching other power plays around the league, I was often struck by the fact that motion and position exchanges within a power play structure can create confusion and draw defenders out of positions guarding the slot. The Kraken rarely did this.

JB: Not a damn thing… Well, other than the power play, which Curtis mentioned already.

What was the biggest surprise? 

JB: For me the biggest surprise might have been the penalty kill. The team PK did not start out that well, but as the season went on, it became stronger and stronger. It felt like this was a key component of the team’s success down the home stretch of the regular season that carried over to the playoffs.

JH: Tye Kartye’s rise came out of nowhere for me. Prospects–nonetheless undrafted free agents–hit at a small clip as it is, but Kartye not only breaking into the NHL at 22, but contributing to Seattle’s top line in the playoffs was a very welcome surprise. The positive momentum generated from Kartye’s playoff emergence will be fun to monitor in training camp and into next year. 

CI: Kartye’s development at the AHL level and postseason NHL performance is a good one, Josh. I’ll go with the waiver claim and play of Eeli Tolvanen this year. He is a very good finisher and a solid defender, and he has developed strong chemistry with Yanni Gourde in a natural middle-six position for him. He’s still one of the youngest core members of the NHL team too and looks like a lineup stalwart for years to come. If we’re flashing back to the beginning of the year, this definitely qualifies as a pleasant surprise.

DB: How about Dave Hakstol as a Jack Adams nominee? All through last season and even in the early stages of this season, it was painful to read our Twitter mentions some nights, as all we saw was “fire Hakstol” vitriol. He turned the team around in its second season and clearly got buy-in from the group, and what was most impressive to me was how he seemed to be able to address problems mid-season. The penalty kill is a great example of that. 

What was the biggest disappointment of the season?

JB: It’s hard to be disappointed with anything from this team this season, but maybe McCann getting hurt in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoff opening round. It was unfortunate, considering he had been such a big piece of the team’s success throughout the season. When he came back, it seemed to take some time for him to get his legs under him and get comfortable with the pace of the game, so it would have been nice to see him healthy coming into the Dallas series.

JH: The only real disappointment I can think of is the Andre Burakovsky injury. While Seattle’s strength was its depth, the Kraken could have used Burakovsky’s firepower during some lulls in the playoffs. 

CI: I didn’t have high expectations for Joonas Donskoi coming into the season, but I was hoping for his sake and the team’s sake that he could re-establish himself as an NHL regular this year. In that regard it was disappointing to see him sidelined for the entire season with an undisclosed injury. At this point, I am hoping that he is doing well with his health moving forward.

DB: It was disappointing to see the Kraken lose Game 7 in Dallas by one goal. They were so close to the Western Conference Finals, but they just didn’t have enough gas left in the tank that night. 

What was your favorite moment of the Seattle Kraken season? 

JB: Jordan Eberle’s overtime game winner in Game 4 of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Colorado has to be my favorite moment. There was so much on the line in that overtime. If the Kraken were to lose that game, they would have gone down 3-1 in the series, and the outcome of that round would have been different. Making the playoffs was a big deal for this franchise, but the storylines and epic moments of its playoff run added to the lore of the Seattle Kraken. Eberle minted fans with that game winner in overtime, and we might look back on it as one of the biggest moments in franchise history.

JH: It doesn’t get much better than a Game 7 win. Watching Oliver Bjorkstrand play one of the best games of his career and Philipp Grubauer come up with clutch save after clutch save was a treat to watch. The joy of winning an elimination game–on the road, no less–is hard to beat. 

DB: I’ll go with Josh’s Game 7 answer, but for different reasons. I had the privilege of being in the building in Denver that night, and it is something that I personally will never forget. You could feel the uneasiness in the crowd, as it started to set in that the Avs were on the ropes, and when the final horn sounded, seeing how happy the guys were in the locker room was just awesome. I will never forget that night. 

CI: Jordan Eberle’s overtime winner from Game 4 against the Colorado Avalanche is tough to beat. It was an electric moment in the arena. But this team was so generous with its highlights this year, I’ll go a different direction. Thought a bit about Justin Schultz’s overtime winner against the Rangers. But I’ll go with Eeli Tolvanen’s goal to open the scoring in Game 1 against Colorado, the team’s first playoff goal, in its first playoff win, the year after recording the third-worst record in the NHL. It was an indelible moment of validation for the franchise and the fanbase.

Do you agree or disagree with our takes?  If not, give us your own post-mortem in the comments section.