[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

-C Nate Danielson has no real discernable weakness in his game, but he doesn't have the flash and dash of some of his contemporaries. That doesn't mean he's not a high-end offensive player, or highly skilled. In 2021-22, his D-minus-1 year, he had 57 points in 53 games for Brandon of the WHL, for a ppg of 1.07. This season, he put up 78 points in 68 games, for a ppg of 1.14- which isn't that big of a jump. Part of the issue is that Brandon has slipped a few spots in the standings, and in goals-for, and the quality of wingers on the Wheaties has diminished. Brandon simply lacks high-end scorers this year. On a better team, I think we see Danielson with over 90 points. Danielson is 6'1", and skates better than the majority of draft-eligibles in this class, and he uses that speed to play a pro-style, 200-ft game. He has top-notch intelligence, awareness, and decision-making, and he's more of a playmaker than shooter. Danielson has the ability to find, and to create open space for himself and his teammates, and he can also find the seams to funnel the puck to high-danger consistently- or he can unleash his deadly, accurate shot with very little space to do so. He's good at drawing attackers towards him, then passing to open teammates. In transition, he can complete exits and entries with his passes, or he can skate it through the neutral zone with full control. This is a player who works hard, is aggressive in all zones, and wants to make a difference every shift- he can drive play, and push the pace, plus he can play a physical game. He's competitive, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty, or to battle hard in the greasy areas. There's already a solid base of defensive ability here, and he can kill the opposition's plays and separate man from puck in a number of ways, and he's good against the rush. He is counted on to shutdown the opposition's top players. Top-notch anticipation, and a good stick. He can play both sides of special teams too. Danielson could use an upgrade to his lateral agility, the power in his shot, and like most teenagers-his consistency. Ceiling here is top-6 C, and he's looking like a shoo-in to be taken in the top-15.

-Alex Ciernik is a left-shooting RW who hails from Slovakia, born in Germany, but has been playing in Sweden for many years. He's one of the older players in the draft with an October birthday, and has been dominant in the J20 Liiga since his D-minus-1 year in 2021-22, where he posted 47 points in 43 games, and dominated the U-18 tournament on a line with Dalibor Dvorsky, with 12 points in 5 games. This season, he split time between the J20 (21 points in 18 games), and the second-tier Allsvenskan (12 points in 25 games- 12th for players under 20), and even the World Juniors (3 points in 5 games). Ciernik is only 5'10", but he's built like a fire hydrant, at 180lbs, and he plays big. Skating-wise, he's often referred to as one of the finest skaters in the draft, up there with Oliver Moore, and he has the skill and stickhandling to match- able to separate from opponents, or dart through them. He has excellent offensive instincts and IQ, and he's a wizard with the puck on his stick, and a gifted playmaker. He also has a hard, heavy shot, and can score from distance, or in tight. He's not afraid to get his nose dirty, he will battle for pucks in the hard areas, and has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Ciernik can be a game-breaker, but his defensive game is almost non-existent, and he can be invisible without the puck. Still, there's tons of potential, and top-6 winger upside. Early second-round,