[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

-LW Roman Kantserov is another fire hydrant, at 5'9", 176lbs, who will be picked in the second round of the Draft, despite having first-round talent. Kantserov is one of the older draft-eligibles in this year's crop, with a Sept.20 birthday, but even if he had been born 5 days earlier, he still would've been a second-rounder in 2021-22, as he finished 23rd in the MHL last year, with a stat line of 57 points in 55 games. This year, he finished 10th in that league, with 54 points in 45 games. Kantserov is a high-skill, elite IQ offensive contributor, but he's also extremely competitive, hard-nosed, and hustles his butt off- which are qualities that bode well for a player with his stature. He forechecks hard, goes to work in the trenches, and fights for position in front of the net like he was 6'3". He's not afraid of the rough-going, and will take a hit to make a play, and he will also dish out the physicality. Playmaking is his specialty, and though he usually keeps it simple, he can thread a pass as well as anyone. Kantserov has an elite offensive toolkit, with high-end vision, and the ability to exploit open space. His shot is a bit weak, but his accuracy, deception, and release are not, which gives him success in this area, as his 27 goals puts him 5th in the MHL for goal-scoring. Skating is good, but he's more shifty and slippery than outright fast, with excellent agility, and short-burst quickness to weave around opponents, along with tight puck control and protection. Defensively, his motor and compete keeps his head well above water, with his specialty being his pickpocketing skills, as well as his active stick. Many scouts say that he still has more offense than he's shown, and that he has the ability to drive play more often than he does. 2nd/3rd round.

-LW Ethan Miedema was one of the principle assets that was sent to Kingston from Windsor in the Shane Wright trade, after being a 4th-overall pick by the Spits in 2021. Miedema is a 6'4",201lb power-forward who moves well for his size, and plays a 200-ft game. His game is still raw in many areas, and he will need time to develop, but he is said to have a tantalizing size/skill ratio. Offensively, he is known more for his vision and playmaking, and his strong instincts, with the ability to find teammates in open space with crisp, hard passes. Despite being known as a playmaking winger, he is also a sniper, owning a hard and accurate array of shots with a quick, deceptive release, and a nice set of hands in tight. He plays hard and heavy all over the ice, and is a load to handle along the boards, down low, and in front of the net. He can dominate in the greasy areas, but needs more consistency in regards to his physicality. He can push the pace, but will often defer to his teammates to carry. Defensively, he shows good positioning, and brings his size and strength to separate man from puck, but can sometimes get caught watching the play, and not being aggressive enough. Mobility-wise, he needs more explosiveness, and perhaps better agility, but gets around fairly well for a guy his size, sometimes exhibiting a knack for getting ahead of the play. His offensive numbers took a hit when he was sent to a weaker Kingston team, having 31 points in 36 games before the trade, and only 21 points in 32 games after. Miedema may have a high floor, possibly in the role of third-line winger in the NHL, if he doesn't make it up to being a regular top-6 player. He can also play C. 3rd/4th round.