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Sandman · 12-08-2025, 07:26 AM

More thoughts from Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings:

-A player to watch is RW Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, and it will be very interesting to see where he's taken in the draft. In 2024-25, his stats were 27 goals and 3 assists in 38 games- yup, you read that right. This season, JLH has amassed 9 goals and 7 assists, for 16 points in 9 U20 games (to go with 33 PIM). Clearly, this is a player who LOVES to score goals, and is able to tally them up in bunches. His highlights (and I recommend watching them) make him look like a 6'2",175lb Pavel Bure- they mostly consist of him either deking out a player or two for a 1-on-1 shot at the goalie, an end-to-end rush for a dangerous opportunity, or beating an opposing defenseman wide to go in alone on goal. JLH is an electrifying skater, and he owns hands that are quick enough to keep up, with a laser shot on a deceptive release, and the moves to beat goalies in-tight. The problem is, most of his points come from highly individualistic plays, he doesn't show much playmaking skill, and offers virtually nothing when he doesn't have possession of the puck; this makes scouts highly doubtful that his style will translate, but I wonder if he could be molded to play the right way. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder (though he takes some selfish, undisciplined penalties) and there is a physical game there in flashes, but he too often passes up the forecheck, doesn't do much to make things difficult for opposing teams, and isn't very interested in defense- but he shows glimpses here and there of being able to do all of the above, plus he can drive play. There's no disputing his overflowing toolkit, his impressive physical profile, or the skills he brings, but he might be a long-term project. Lagerberg Hoen hasn't played since October 18th, and has earned 2 games in the SHL with no points. He's older than most first-time draft-eligibles as well, with an October 24th, 2007 birthday.

-There's plenty to like about RW Zach Lansard (6'0",175lbs), who Central Scouting rated as a "W", meaning that he's a "player to watch" for the later rounds. Though he has only 4 points in the last 10 games, Lansard has managed to put up 23 points in 29 games (a pace that prorates him to 54 points in 68 games) for the Regina Pats- who sit 19th in the 23-team WHL. He typically plays on Regina's most reliable line, with Keets Fawcett and fellow draft-eligible Cohen Klassen, and with 11 of his 23 points being goals, it's easy to deduce that he has goal-scoring aptitude, and a nose for the net. He isn't without smarts and playmaking ability though, and he is capable of driving play through transition. Lansard hustles hard, exerts high-motor and tenacity, and he skates well, showing quickness in short areas, and a pace-pushing top-speed. His puck-skills are one of his best assets, giving him the ability to stickhandle through traffic, and beat attackers 1-on-1; he manages the puck well, and can play through contact. Lanford competes in hard areas for pucks, and doesn't shy away physically, but he needs to get significantly stronger in order to win more pucks at the next level.

-Lansard's linemate in Regina, "W"-rated LW/C Cohen Klassen (6'0",177lbs), seems to be the more complete player of the two, though his point-totals are lower- 6 goals and 17 points in 25 contests. Klassen is the better two-way player, and has even been put in a shut-down role at times for the Pats, with uncommon strength (he is farmboy strong, born in Martensville, SK) and a fairly sturdy physical style; he is hard-working, energetic, and competitive, and not afraid to muck and grind when needed. Klassen isn't the goal-scorer that Lansard seems to be, but he exhibits an elevated level of playmaking vision, creativity, and IQ to feed his linemates in advantageous positions on the ice. Like his linemate, Klassen is an excellent skater with a good top-speed, showing well-honed puck-skill that enables him to carry through traffic, and drive the play. He is one of the youngest players in the draft as well, with a September 8th, 2008 birthdate.

-This one's a player that I like, although Central Scouting sees him as a "W", or a player who will likely be picked in later rounds. San Jose'-born RW Jake Gustafson (6'3.75",179lbs) is a big power-forward who exhibits skill and a soft-touch with the puck. He is 8th on the team in scoring, with 9 goals and 18 points in 29 games, but can be used in any situation. Gus moves well for a player his size, with a good top-speed, and he is reasonably agile, but must make efforts to improve his first-step and acceleration- his stride is smooth, fluid, and projectable though. He exerts a heavy physical game, and does plenty of damage in front of the net, but he is skilled with the puck, blessed with a high IQ and acute playmaking vision, and makes smart plays under pressure- though his game is relatively simple. There's also a good shot with a sneaky release in his offensive toolkit, and smooth hands to finish in-close, or capitalize on rebounds. Gus is also an excellent two-way player who works as hard on the backcheck as he does on the forecheck. I see him as a player with a healthy upside, a projectable game, and one who will go much higher than the later rounds.

-RHC Simas Ignatavicius (6'3",196lbs) is a player who has been turning heads in the scouting world, with some putting him as high as the second-round; I find players who play in Switzerland hard to project, so everything must come with an asterisk. Owen Sound of the OHL holds his rights, so hopefully they can bring him across the pond at some point. Ignatavicius turned 18 in October, but he is already playing in the Swiss National League, which is the top-tier pro league in that country, and he has produced 7 points through 32 games with limited minutes. In 2024-25, he put up 50 points in 45 games in the U20 league, which ranks as the 19th-best season for a U-18 player in that league all-time. By all accounts, he's a big power-forward whose skating is one of his best attributes- he can beat attackers with speed, or evade them with his agility on his slick edges, as well as his well-defined puck-skill. There's goal-scoring ability here, but he is a pass-first playmaker with creativity and vision, exerting a soft-touch and plenty of finesse. Ignatavicius is also a reliable 200-ft player who can play in any situation, and can skate at center or the wing. Sounds good, but we'll see.

-A player who gets severely underrated is LW Evan Jardine (5'11.25",182lbs), who plies his trade for the 2nd-place Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, posting 22 points in 23 games- which ranks 18th in league scoring. Tempering projections is the fact that he's an older player, with an October 23rd birthday, but his 2024-25 production of 44 points in 62 games (tied for 36th in USHL scoring) negates those concerns a bit. Jardine lacks size and strength right now, but he is never outworked, moves through contact while maintaining possession, and plays a hard-nosed physical game with a reliable two-way conscience. Where he is underrated is in his playmaking and passing, as well as his staunch off-puck habits; he is always in perfect position to support his teammates, and can complete smart passes in traffic while under duress- his IQ and hockey sense are sometimes unfairly overlooked. Though he leans into his passing, Jardine also has a dangerous, deceptive shot, and the quick hands to beat goalies in-tight; he is used heavily in the bumper position on the PP. Going forward, he will need to get bigger, and a whole lot stronger to handle the rigors of pro hockey, but his speed and explosiveness also need a bit of work.

-LD Theodor Knights (6'3.75",194lbs) moves surprisingly well in all-four directions, and he uses his mobility to dole out thunderous, punishing hits prolifically. He is mean, intimidating, and downright surly, but also a highly effective shutdown defenseman, who can mirror oncoming attackers' footwork to trap them in his tight gaps to then surf across the ice to finish them with a stiff hit. There isn't much here in terms of an offensive game, and he doesn't exhibit much puck-skill to speak of; only 1 point (and 37 PIM) in 13 U20 games this season, as well as 1 point (and 56 PIM) in 4 games at the 5 Nations for Team Sweden. There are some who have him as early as the first-round of the draft, but his stature, shutdown game, and physicality will surely make him a target for NHL teams in the first 3 rounds.

-LD Lincoln Krizizke (6'0.5",165lbs) was once a forward, and his experience there helped him be a better defenseman. Krizizke is very hard to play against, due to his excellent 4-way mobility, stifling gap control, high-end compete, and punishing physicality. Though he leans a bit more into "stay-at-home" territory, his IQ and hockey sense allow him to create advantages for his teammates with his heads-up puck-movement, and skilled passing- he can also support the play well in the offensive zone. To date this season, he has contributed 8 points in 20 USHL games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, which prorates to 23 points in 57 games (to go with 88 PIM). Best of all, his game is considered to be translatable to higher levels.

12-08-2025, 07:26 AM	#879
Sandman Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Calgary Exp:	More thoughts from Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings: -A player to watch is RW Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, and it will be very interesting to see where he's taken in the draft. In 2024-25, his stats were 27 goals and 3 assists in 38 games- yup, you read that right. This season, JLH has amassed 9 goals and 7 assists, for 16 points in 9 U20 games (to go with 33 PIM). Clearly, this is a player who LOVES to score goals, and is able to tally them up in bunches. His highlights (and I recommend watching them) make him look like a 6'2",175lb Pavel Bure- they mostly consist of him either deking out a player or two for a 1-on-1 shot at the goalie, an end-to-end rush for a dangerous opportunity, or beating an opposing defenseman wide to go in alone on goal. JLH is an electrifying skater, and he owns hands that are quick enough to keep up, with a laser shot on a deceptive release, and the moves to beat goalies in-tight. The problem is, most of his points come from highly individualistic plays, he doesn't show much playmaking skill, and offers virtually nothing when he doesn't have possession of the puck; this makes scouts highly doubtful that his style will translate, but I wonder if he could be molded to play the right way. He has a bit of a chip on his shoulder (though he takes some selfish, undisciplined penalties) and there is a physical game there in flashes, but he too often passes up the forecheck, doesn't do much to make things difficult for opposing teams, and isn't very interested in defense- but he shows glimpses here and there of being able to do all of the above, plus he can drive play. There's no disputing his overflowing toolkit, his impressive physical profile, or the skills he brings, but he might be a long-term project. Lagerberg Hoen hasn't played since October 18th, and has earned 2 games in the SHL with no points. He's older than most first-time draft-eligibles as well, with an October 24th, 2007 birthday. -There's plenty to like about RW Zach Lansard (6'0",175lbs), who Central Scouting rated as a "W", meaning that he's a "player to watch" for the later rounds. Though he has only 4 points in the last 10 games, Lansard has managed to put up 23 points in 29 games (a pace that prorates him to 54 points in 68 games) for the Regina Pats- who sit 19th in the 23-team WHL. He typically plays on Regina's most reliable line, with Keets Fawcett and fellow draft-eligible Cohen Klassen, and with 11 of his 23 points being goals, it's easy to deduce that he has goal-scoring aptitude, and a nose for the net. He isn't without smarts and playmaking ability though, and he is capable of driving play through transition. Lansard hustles hard, exerts high-motor and tenacity, and he skates well, showing quickness in short areas, and a pace-pushing top-speed. His puck-skills are one of his best assets, giving him the ability to stickhandle through traffic, and beat attackers 1-on-1; he manages the puck well, and can play through contact. Lanford competes in hard areas for pucks, and doesn't shy away physically, but he needs to get significantly stronger in order to win more pucks at the next level. -Lansard's linemate in Regina, "W"-rated LW/C Cohen Klassen (6'0",177lbs), seems to be the more complete player of the two, though his point-totals are lower- 6 goals and 17 points in 25 contests. Klassen is the better two-way player, and has even been put in a shut-down role at times for the Pats, with uncommon strength (he is farmboy strong, born in Martensville, SK) and a fairly sturdy physical style; he is hard-working, energetic, and competitive, and not afraid to muck and grind when needed. Klassen isn't the goal-scorer that Lansard seems to be, but he exhibits an elevated level of playmaking vision, creativity, and IQ to feed his linemates in advantageous positions on the ice. Like his linemate, Klassen is an excellent skater with a good top-speed, showing well-honed puck-skill that enables him to carry through traffic, and drive the play. He is one of the youngest players in the draft as well, with a September 8th, 2008 birthdate. -This one's a player that I like, although Central Scouting sees him as a "W", or a player who will likely be picked in later rounds. San Jose'-born RW Jake Gustafson (6'3.75",179lbs) is a big power-forward who exhibits skill and a soft-touch with the puck. He is 8th on the team in scoring, with 9 goals and 18 points in 29 games, but can be used in any situation. Gus moves well for a player his size, with a good top-speed, and he is reasonably agile, but must make efforts to improve his first-step and acceleration- his stride is smooth, fluid, and projectable though. He exerts a heavy physical game, and does plenty of damage in front of the net, but he is skilled with the puck, blessed with a high IQ and acute playmaking vision, and makes smart plays under pressure- though his game is relatively simple. There's also a good shot with a sneaky release in his offensive toolkit, and smooth hands to finish in-close, or capitalize on rebounds. Gus is also an excellent two-way player who works as hard on the backcheck as he does on the forecheck. I see him as a player with a healthy upside, a projectable game, and one who will go much higher than the later rounds. -RHC Simas Ignatavicius (6'3",196lbs) is a player who has been turning heads in the scouting world, with some putting him as high as the second-round; I find players who play in Switzerland hard to project, so everything must come with an asterisk. Owen Sound of the OHL holds his rights, so hopefully they can bring him across the pond at some point. Ignatavicius turned 18 in October, but he is already playing in the Swiss National League, which is the top-tier pro league in that country, and he has produced 7 points through 32 games with limited minutes. In 2024-25, he put up 50 points in 45 games in the U20 league, which ranks as the 19th-best season for a U-18 player in that league all-time. By all accounts, he's a big power-forward whose skating is one of his best attributes- he can beat attackers with speed, or evade them with his agility on his slick edges, as well as his well-defined puck-skill. There's goal-scoring ability here, but he is a pass-first playmaker with creativity and vision, exerting a soft-touch and plenty of finesse. Ignatavicius is also a reliable 200-ft player who can play in any situation, and can skate at center or the wing. Sounds good, but we'll see. -A player who gets severely underrated is LW Evan Jardine (5'11.25",182lbs), who plies his trade for the 2nd-place Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, posting 22 points in 23 games- which ranks 18th in league scoring. Tempering projections is the fact that he's an older player, with an October 23rd birthday, but his 2024-25 production of 44 points in 62 games (tied for 36th in USHL scoring) negates those concerns a bit. Jardine lacks size and strength right now, but he is never outworked, moves through contact while maintaining possession, and plays a hard-nosed physical game with a reliable two-way conscience. Where he is underrated is in his playmaking and passing, as well as his staunch off-puck habits; he is always in perfect position to support his teammates, and can complete smart passes in traffic while under duress- his IQ and hockey sense are sometimes unfairly overlooked. Though he leans into his passing, Jardine also has a dangerous, deceptive shot, and the quick hands to beat goalies in-tight; he is used heavily in the bumper position on the PP. Going forward, he will need to get bigger, and a whole lot stronger to handle the rigors of pro hockey, but his speed and explosiveness also need a bit of work. -LD Theodor Knights (6'3.75",194lbs) moves surprisingly well in all-four directions, and he uses his mobility to dole out thunderous, punishing hits prolifically. He is mean, intimidating, and downright surly, but also a highly effective shutdown defenseman, who can mirror oncoming attackers' footwork to trap them in his tight gaps to then surf across the ice to finish them with a stiff hit. There isn't much here in terms of an offensive game, and he doesn't exhibit much puck-skill to speak of; only 1 point (and 37 PIM) in 13 U20 games this season, as well as 1 point (and 56 PIM) in 4 games at the 5 Nations for Team Sweden. There are some who have him as early as the first-round of the draft, but his stature, shutdown game, and physicality will surely make him a target for NHL teams in the first 3 rounds. -LD Lincoln Krizizke (6'0.5",165lbs) was once a forward, and his experience there helped him be a better defenseman. Krizizke is very hard to play against, due to his excellent 4-way mobility, stifling gap control, high-end compete, and punishing physicality. Though he leans a bit more into "stay-at-home" territory, his IQ and hockey sense allow him to create advantages for his teammates with his heads-up puck-movement, and skilled passing- he can also support the play well in the offensive zone. To date this season, he has contributed 8 points in 20 USHL games with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, which prorates to 23 points in 57 games (to go with 88 PIM). Best of all, his game is considered to be translatable to higher levels.