[Sandman]

RHD Martin Schreiber,6'2"176lbs (Linkoping J20):15gp/1g/6a/7pts,33PIM. His positive play earned him 13 games in the SHL. I just watched a shift-by-shift video, and I'm very impressed by his combination of size, skating, physicality, and poise under pressure. He uses his size well in puck-battles, and 1-on-1 situations. Moves quite well, can cut and turn quickly to shake off forecheckers, and can control smaller and speedier players by keeping them boxed out. Keeps his stick active, and has a great pokecheck. Plays physical, and battles along the boards and in front of the net-keeps the goalie's field of vision clear. Excellent PKer. When opponents start the breakout, he pinches in a good way-proactively shutting them down. Nice gap control, fast when skating backwards-he reads the game well, and doesn't get caught out of position. Good puck control and stickhandling. Offense is still a work in progress-it's definitely there, as evidenced by his impressive passing game. He can start breakouts and transitions quickly, with smart, accurate passes. He has a good shot, but needs to make it harder, and quicker. Projects as a bottom-4 two-way guy, who kills penalties. Rounds 5-7.

C Danil Grigoryev,6'5"198lbs (Irbis Kazan,MHL): 54gp/16g/11a/27pts, 2nd on his team. Huge guy with good mobility, although his skating gets some mixed reviews due to his hunched-over stride, and strange mechanics that mess with his balance-but some say he still moves well, despite this. Danil has elite puck-control skills, and it's almost impossible to take the puck from him when he's carrying. Protects the puck extremely well, and uses his reach to his advantage. Works the net front in the offensive zone, being a tough assignment to check, and scores garbage goals, rebounds, and tips. High compete workhorse who does a bit of everything-uses his size and reach to win battles, and has tremendous passing skills including a nice, consistent entry pass. Grigoryev is known for his steady, structured 200 ft game, and for the way he makes an impact at both ends of the ice, but it's his defensive awareness that's his specialty-and the part of his game that might be his ticket to the NHL. He's an especially smart player in the defensive zone, and breaks up plays with his strength, reach, physicality, and acute vision. This is a player I see rising on mocks and draft lists, and it may be because of his high floor as a defensive center in the NHL. 5th/6th round, maybe?

RW Ivan Bjorkly Nordstrom,6'7"216lbs (Malmo J20): 16gp/6g/6a/12pts,12PIM. People may point to the fact that he missed last year's draft by only a few days as being a negative, but he still brings a tantalizing toolkit. IBN's skating is surprisingly good for a kid his size-I listened to a podcast, where a scout said that he skates like a guy who's 5'10". Hard not to get giddy about that alone. He still battles hard in danger areas, and is a dominating presence in front of the net. Strong on the puck-it's hard to take from him when he's skating with it-but still has the skill to deke and dangle around defenders, with his stickhandling. Nice hands to pass or shoot, and has a solid shot with a quick release. Huge handful when driving the net. This kid is still quite raw-he has plenty of tools, but is still trying to find the toolbox, and if/when he does, look out! IBN will need a few years in Sweden to get his game together. He needs to continue getting stronger, and keep working on his skating-his balance and agility will get better with age and by furthering his strength. 6th/7th round.

LW Arvid Sundin,5'11"179lbs (Brynas J20): 15gp/6g/1a/7pts, along with 1pt in 7 games at the U-18s in a checking role. This kid has high compete-plays with speed, and is like a tasmanian devil on ice. He can outskate his peers, just by the way he pumps his legs hard, and keeps his feet moving. Wins most races for dump-ins and loose pucks-challenges opponents in all facets of the game with his speed. Nice set of hands, he attacks the net fishing for rebounds. He's much more meticulous with his passing game, and has patience in searching for the right outlet. Sundin can easily handle a checking role, as he gives 100% in his backcheck, and works hard grinding in all 3 zones. Wins the battles along the walls, and creates turnovers in every area of the ice with his body and stick-allows little to no time to be creative. Very physical-he likes to remind the competition that he's there. He makes life miserable for his opponents, and plays the pest role. Gets plenty of PK time. Some say Sundin has a bit of a limited hockey sense offensively, but I think it's too early to say that-and even if it is true, he still has a high floor, and could possibly make it as a checker in the NHL. He's still only 17, and won't turn 18 until August, so he's more potential than finished product. He has very good body strength for a kid his size, but he will need to keep building on it, if he hopes to play his game at the next level. He needs to also develop the strength of his shot. Rounds 6/7.

C/W Dmitri Zugan,5'11"185lbs (Krasniya Armiya Moskva, MHL): 61gp/16g/24a/40pts, was rewarded with a game in the KHL. This kid could be a sleeper-he often plays the highest minutes of all the forwards on his team, as his game is so responsible and well-rounded. He plays with pace, reads the play extremely well, and for as good an offensive weapon he is, has top-tier defensive awareness. He's often the best player on the ice, and is calm and poised in high-pressure situations. Tremendous IQ and vision, he always has his head on a swivel, making himself an option for passes, or feeding the slot for high-danger opportunities. Forechecks hard, slicing through gaps, and unleashing his hard, heavy shot. Dizzle is a blazing fast skater, who can outrun opponents or use his edgework to separate. He can switch to the backcheck quickly, even from behind the opposition's net, and his speed can break apart even the stiffest defensive structure. Superb at defending the cycle, especially on the PK. He employs a quick, smart stick to disrupt plays, and has good puck control, puck protection, and stickhandling. Sky-high compete and determination, he's focused and patient, and consistently makes good decisions that turn the tide of the play for his team-shift in, shift out. Doesn't shy away from playing a physical game-he supports his teammate in battle, engages in front of the net, gets his nose dirty in 50/50 battles, and beats bigger and stronger guys. Exhibits defensive prowess blocking shots, clogging lanes, breaking up plays, and killing entries-making his game much more translatable to the NHL. If he doesn't fit in your top-6, he can easily be a third-line defensive player who chips in offense, and plays on special teams. There's questions about his offensive ceiling at the next level, but he's put up numbers everywhere he's been. Look for him in the late 3rd/4th round.