C/RW Mackie Samoskevich, 5'11"190lbs (Chicago Steel,USHL): Seems I'm writing about the Steel a lot lately. Here's a kid we should all look at. He plays on the top two lines, mostly with Coronato and Middendorf. We all know and love Coronato, but I just read an article that put forth some interesting facts to suggest that Mackie is as good, or better as a prospect than Coronato.
First of all, at 5 on 5, Samoskevich produced 1.9 expected goals/60 vs. Coronato's 1.93-so pretty negligible. Samoskevich had 1.31 expected primary assists vs. Coronato's 1.28. Samoskevich had 37pts in 36 games, while Coronato had 85 in 51. Don't get me wrong, Coronato will still go higher on draft day.
Coronato relies on a high volume of shots off solo rushes-a skill that doesn't translate, as most player's shots are assisted. 50% of his scoring chances, and 69% of his shots were unassisted. Samoskevich avoids low-percentage and solo shots (only 27% of his shots).
Samoskevich is more efficient in transition. His puck-control is special, with near perfect mechanics, a limitless arsenal of moves, and layers of deception on every manoever. Few players can can make defenders commit their weight,or freeze entirely in transition like him. 23% of his entries cross the "dot zone"(imagine two parallel lines that run from the defensive zone faceoff dots to the offensive zone faceoff dots), which shows the east-west in his north-south attacks when gaining the zone. Only 4% of Coronato's entries accomplished this feat. Coronato is always on his inside edges with the puck in front. instead of across his hips (like Samo), forcing him to deke through traffic, and therefore making him easier to push to the perimeter. Samoskevich's puckhandling, pace, and patience are more translatable, and have more upside. In expected goals shot or set up, Coronato (6th in the league, 3rd amongst draft eligibles) and Samo (6th and 4th) are very close.
Samoskevich is mostly a pure offensive player, mainly seeing O-zone starts, but he's still reliable in his own end in the sense that can pass it, or carry it himself on breakouts. Some of his decisions in the D zone can be questionable, and a little risky. When he's on the ice the zone entries mostly come from him. He has poise, patience, and creates a ton of high danger chances.
Samo's stickhandling and skating are his most impressive attributes. He could skate and stickhandle in a phone booth. He can get up to blazing speed in only a few strides, and can evade and embarrass even the best defenders with his elusiveness, agility, and puckhandling. His edgework makes him unpredictable, and he's strong on his skates-you can't knock him of the puck, or take it away from him. He can find teammates with pinpoint passes in flight, and has one of the best releases in the draft. One article compares his style to Marner, but he reminds me of Barzal. One of the fastest in this draft.
I've seen him mostly in the second round, but I bet he goes in the first.
Last edited by Sandman; 02-19-2024 at 03:07 PM.
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D Stanislav Svozil, 6'1"172lbs (Kometa, CZE): Just got finished watching a shift by shift video of him from earlier this year. Hard to believe I was watching a kid who just turned 18, playing against men. This kid has a long history of playing out of his age group-when he was 15, he played on the U16 team where he scored 14pts in 16 games-second most on his team, and 9pts more than any other defenseman in the league. As a 16 year old, he made his way up through the U17 team (where he wore an A, had the second most PPG in the league amongst D men), then the U18s, then the U20 (2pts in 3 g), and finally the International team-the latter two, he was second youngest on the team. That year, before he turned 17, he made it to the Extraliiga where he was the youngest player by far, playing pro against men. He's the only player his age to ever play a full season.
His vision, IQ, and passing are elite. One journalist said,"he plays like he's viewing the rink from from a top-down perspective, making passes the fans can't even find, much less a player in the moment". Top-tier instinct and unparalleled level of awareness-he can thread the needle through multiple players for an easy goal. His ability to see teammates, open lanes, and create chances is amazing. Makes plays that make him stand out from his contemporaries. "Hockey IQ unmatched in this year's draft".
Svozil is an excellent skater, with great agility, edges and balance. He has the most zone entries by a defenseman on his team. His passing from the point is terrific, his ability to attack the net makes him unpredictable. He rushes the puck, and creates beautiful opportunities. His ability to perform as a top-level playmaker, especially as a 16yr old playing against men, is incredible.
Another guy who people say will go early second, but may go in the first. If there's a weakness, it's that he needs to polish his defensive zone play, but it doesn't look bad. Only 3 points in 30 games in the Extraliiga, the men's league. In the U20 league, he has 6pts in 9 games (tied for fourth in scoring, 3pts higher than the next defenseman, and tied with winger Pavel Novak who has played 11 games, and 1 point behind Mysak), with 16 PIMs-on a team with Mysak, Novak, Raska, Pytlik, and Teply. He wore an 'A' at the U-18 touney, but only had 1pt.
Last edited by Sandman; 05-21-2021 at 03:18 AM.
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Thanks! Yeah, it’s hard to find some stuff on him. He seems like a guy that absolutely doesn’t excel in any aspect, but is above average in all categories. But I’ve had very limited viewings on him so take my word with a grain of salt.
A 19 year old D man with mobility and that kind of offensive output? There's worse players in the last 2-3 rounds, trust me lol.
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C/RW Oliver Kapanen. 6'1"179lbs(KalPa U20, FIN): Cousin of Kasperi, this kid is still 17 until Jul 29. In 2019-20, he started in the U16 league, but went up to the U18 KalPa team (44gp/23g/27a/50pts), where he played in all situations, and was called "the team's most impactful forward". This year, he's playing in the U20 league (37gp/25g/16a/41pts- 11th in the league, 1st on his team) and got 5 games with 5 points in the Mestis. Very impressive. Not so impressive? 0 points in the U-18 tournament.
Kap is highly skilled with offensive flair. He's a talented goal-scorer with a hard, accurate shot and a good release. He's also a great playmaker with very strong shot-creation metrics. He plays a fast-paced game with smooth skating, good acceleration, and always keeps his feet moving. He also gets praise for his play along the boards.
Kapanen also reads the game well without the puck, and makes good decisions in all 3 zones. He protects the puck well, and exhibits good stickhandling. Another specialty is his faceoffs.
Oliver is expected to get taken in the 2nd or 3rd round. The only real criticism I can find is that he needs to polish up his all-around game.
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We've compiled all the (non single-game scouting report) work we've done on the 2021 NHL Draft class into one post on our site for easy searching. Can search it via player or post type (deep dive, spotlight, tournament review, etc).
Flames are easily at the bottom of the league in terms of future potential. We have no prospects and in 2 years time it is very possible were without Gaudreau and Tkachuk.
I would actually disagree. Pelletier and Zary are some of the most interesting prospects that the Flames have had in years.
But I have no faith in the Flames to be actually able to develop these players and give them a fair chance or room to grow in actual roles in the NHL when the team philosophy is that the NHL is not a "developmental" league. So either they will stick these prospects in the AHL to grind away or play them in the bottom 6 to wither away.
You don't often back into talent like Pelletier and Zary at the back end of the first round so please Flames - don't #### it up. If Kirby Dach was ready for the NHL 2 years ago out of the 1st round then Jakob Pelletier is ready for the NHL and should be riding shotgun in the top 6 with the Flames. He has done everything you could possibly ask of him. What a stud.
C/LW William Eklund, 5'10"172lbs (Djurgardens, SEL): In the past few months, I've been quick to dismiss this player, but after watching some highlights and reading more into him and his numbers, I think he might just be the best forward in the draft. This year, he played all year in the men's league, where he put up 23 points in 40 games, including 11 goals-which tied him for second in goal scoring on his team. His 0.58 ppg put him ahead of teammate Alexander Holtz (0.45), as well as Lucas Raymond (0.45), and Noel Gunler (0.38), who were all drafted last year. Those are also better numbers than Nicklas Backstrom and Jakub Vrana put up in their draft years in that league. Last year, the numbers he had in the J20 League were better than Niederbach and Nybeck-both also drafted last year.
Eklund's film has a lot of him just skating past or through defenders with his deft edges and stickhandling for a shot or high-end pass. In the SHL, he's a LW-but many think he will be a C in the next level because of his play-making,skating, and attention to defense. He's got a fantastic shot that he needs to learn to use more. His skating is said to need a better top gear, but every other aspect is elite. His edgework and agility are top-tier, as well as his short-burst and acceleration, which he uses to push pace.
Ek's IQ and vision are most likely the highest in the draft, totally jaw-dropping. His passing and play-making are top-notch, and as said earlier-he's second on his team in goals. "He already understands coverages better than most NHL forwards", so he knows how to exploit them.
His Dad, Christian is a folk hero in Djurgardens, where he was a bottom six player, and Dad has passed his heart and work-ethic down to his son. William is an excellent defensive player, and great in transition with a competitive motor. He has good retrieval skills, and an active stick to cause turnovers. Like his father, he loves to go to the dirty areas to get his nose dirty-and he'll mix it up with or without the puck. Engages along the boards, in front of the net, and on the forecheck.
More than a few think he's the best F in the draft, with the highest IQ-he's been compared to guys like Zetterberg, and Pavelski.
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LW Oskar Olausson, 6'2"181lbs (HV-71 J20Nationell, SWE): Olausson played mainly in the J20 this year with stops in the SHL and Allsvenskan. In the J20, he dominated with 14 goals and 27 points in 16 games (1.68 p/gp)-compare that to Lysell, who had 13 points in 11 games (1.18 p/gp). Olausson also had a higher points per game in the men's league than Lysell. Olausson was 2nd on his J20 team in scoring, and tied for 5th in the entire league. He got a chance to play in the WJC, but didn't see a lot of ice.
Olausson possesses great mobility, and is praised for his ability to gain the zone neatly and with control, setting up for teammates. He can manoevre around, or through attackers. He keeps his feet moving, and is agile and quick. His speed and size make him hard to contain on the cycle. Very quick in transition.
One of the pillars of his skill-set is his great shot and quick release-he's a threat to score from anywhere on the ice. Olausson is quite strong for his age, and has a great work ethic-plays at a high tempo. He helps out defensively on the back-check, and forces turnovers-however he doesn't always show the same consistency in his own end as he does in the other two zones, which has led to some questions about his IQ. He can sometimes lose his man. Even though he works hard, he can be inconsistent from shift to shift. He is trusted on the PP and the PK, though. He isn't overly physical though, despite his size.
Olausson looks to be a first-rounder, as he has first-round talent. He'll go somewhere between 20-32.
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C/RW Mackie Samoskevich, 5'11"190lbs (Chicago Steel,USHL): Seems I'm writing about the Steel a lot lately. Here's a kid we should all look at. He plays on the top two lines, mostly with Coronato and Middendorf. We all know and love Coronato, but I just read an article that put forth some interesting facts to suggest that Mackie is as good, or better as a prospect than Coronato.
I'm very impressed from what I've seen so far... Fast, good hockey IQ and has a great wrister. And in spite of his size he doesn't seem to be soft by any means (0:51). Thanks a lot.
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I'm very impressed from what I've seen so far... Fast, good hockey IQ and has a great wrister. And in spite of his size he doesn't seem to be soft by any means (0:51). Thanks a lot.
First-round talent, no doubt about it. If we traded down, we could take this kid, or pray that he lasts until our second rounder-which I doubt he will.
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LHD Jack Peart, 5'11"181lbs (Fargo, USHL): Peart left Fargo after 16 games to go back to Grand Rapids in a bid to win the High School State Championships (they lost out). Minnesota HS Hockey is like a religion down there, and Peart took home the coveted title of "Mr. Hockey"-given out to the most outstanding senior in the league, despite being up against several defensemen with better stats, and a few NHL draftees. He was the first D-man to win that title since Nick Leddy back in 2009. That says something about this kid as a player. In Grand Rapids, he put up 11g/24a/35pts in just 18 games. For Fargo, he had 1g/14a/15pts in 24 games, and in the playoffs, he was 4th leading scorer on the team with 2g/5a/7pts in 9 games.
As a testament to his value, consider this: In his first 16 games before departing to GR, Fargo went 11-5; they then went 16-14 in his abscence, and then went on an 8 game winning streak upon his return. Coming back to the USHL is always a big adjustment after playing a much more free-wheeling brand of hockey in HS, and his coach said it took Peart a good six games to return to top form. Peart only recently decided to switch full time to hockey, as he was a pretty serious baseball player as well. The coaching staff in Fargo says that Peart is the smartest hockey player they've had there in their time in the organization-and that Jack's strengths are his hockey sense and anticipation.
Peart has elite hockey sense, awareness, and vision in all situations. He takes difficult situations and turns them into intelligent plays-he shows on a nightly basis his understanding of the position. His patience and poise under pressure is impressive and he displays full-ice vision in his passing. A player he beat for the Mr.Hockey title said,"His poise is what sets him apart. He can be a one-man show. He can break the puck out by himself and make plays". This says something about his elite transition skills, another big part of his game.
Peart is a smooth skater with great mobility, and very strong on his skates. His backwards skating helps with his standout gap control, and his ability to push the play to the outside. He has an active stick to break up plays, and is reliable defensively. He's slated to be picked in the second round.
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LW/C Tristan Broz, 6'0"179lbs (Fargo, USHL): Wears the "A" for the force. Broz is 1st on the team in scoring by 12 points, with 19g/32a/51pts in 54 games, with 54 PIMs. He was also 1st in the playoffs by 3 points with 3g/8a/11pts in 9 gp, to go with 16 PIMs. Broz had a hand in almost a third of the team's goals, and his metrics when it comes to shooting, passing, entries, exits, and defense are outstanding.
Broz has excellent hands with an accurate, quick release and velocity. He makes his linemates more effective with his vision and patience. He's a heads-up passer with great puck control, playmaking, and timing. In addition, he plays a responsible game in all areas, and plays with some physicality and snarl. His motor runs high, and his feet are elusive-he's a good skater and plays with jump. Central scouting elevated him to an "A"rating, meaning they think he'll get first-round consideration, but he'll most likely go in the second or third round.
Last edited by Sandman; 05-25-2021 at 01:47 AM.
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RHD Jacob Guevin, 5'11"181lbs (Muskegon, USHL): Finished as the top scoring D on his team by a whopping 15pts, and the second-highest scoring D-man in the entire league. His plus 27 is second on the team by 11, and 9th in the league. 7g/38a/45pts in 53 games, with 20 PIMs. Whatever the knocks are, he just produces.
Guevin is known to be energetic and physical (despite his size), but disciplined and calm. He's not known to be flashy or dynamic, he keeps it simple. Skates very well-moves well in all directions, and his backwards skating gives him good gap control on even the fastest attackers. He can change direction rapidly, transitioning up the ice quickly. He has standout hockey sense, but needs to improve some of his reads and decision making for the next level. Projected for the 4th/5th round.
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RHD Brent Johnson,5'11"165lbs (Sioux Falls,USHL): Here's a player who's risen all the way up the draft rankings. 11g/21a/32pts, 42 PIMs in 47 games-first in D scoring on his team by 9 points, 4th in the league for defensemen in points per game. He's dependable in all 3 zones, and plays with skill and confidence.
Johnson's skating is widely raved about as being one of his best attributes, and for being one of the best skaters in this draft. He can get to full speed almost instantly, and his balance and agility are also elite. He has some of the best edgework amongst D men, giving him elusiveness and the ability to push the play in all 3 zones. He can pinch in the O zone, and get back with ease, and he can catch opponents with ease on the counter attack after a rush. His skating, along with his fine stickhandling makes him dangerous.
Johnson is also known as a highly skilled puck-mover-he reads the ice extremely well, and can make plays in full-flight. He can QB a PP with his puck distribution skills, and has a great wrister with a sneaky release. His slapper could use a little work though. Johnson has an incredible ability to find open ice for a shot or pass. Very high IQ and vision.
Positioning in the D-zone is another strength-he takes away lanes, has an active stick to break up plays, is an expert shot-blocker, and defends the rush well. Despite his size, he plays physical. His explosive back-checking speed means he never gets beaten cleanly, or caught up ice. In transition, he prefers to hit the streaking wingers with a pass, rather than carrying it himself, or having to dump it in.
He can sometimes take bad risks, and can be overpowered. He will need to bulk up and get stronger. He can also use some work on his long-range passing, and his shot accuracy-he often misses or gets blocked. Despite all of these great qualities, he's still considered a diamond-in-the-rough with big-time potential. First-round talent looks to be going in the second round.
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LHD Evgeni Kashnikov, 6'4"198lbs (Gatineau,QMJHL): The big Russian was taken 12th overall by Gatineau in the Import Draft in 2019, after dominating the Russian U18 League with 15 pts in 16 games. This year, he played in AKM Novomoskovsk in the MHL putting up 5g/5a/10pts, 22PIMs in 22 games. Despite only playing 22 games, he still ended up 7th on the team, and 2nd in D scoring behind Artyom Komarov, who is 20 yrs old. In Gatineau, he had 5pts in 8 games with 11 PIMs,+5.
There is very little info about this prospect, and less film. He purportedly has very good mobility for his size, which alone gives him allure. Kash can breakout with his skating, or make a good outlet pass. He apparently moves pretty well laterally as well, giving him good positioning to defend the rush. He possesses good stickhandling and passing skills, and is known as a puck moving D. He also plays with snarl.
Kashnikov’s numbers show some ability, but probably not top-pairing ability, however-who couldn't use a big D-man who can move? He'll probably go in the third or fourth round.
Last edited by Sandman; 05-25-2021 at 07:37 PM.
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LW Eric Alarie, 6'1"198lbs (Moose Jaw, WHL): Big, thick power-forward, first-round pick of the Warriors in 2018, put up 10g and 10a in 19 games-making him their top-scorer. I think it's reasonable to speculate that Alarie would have put up better numbers on a more talented squad. Alarie is said to have great character and drive, his coaches love him. Highly competitive, out-battles the opposition, wins pucks.
First, if you watch any film of this kid, he looks bigger than 6'1". He's heavy on the puck, tenacious and physical-especially on the forecheck. He battles through defenders, and gets his nose dirty in the trenches. Loves to make plays and win pucks in the corners, and get accurate passes to his teammates. He takes pride in his play in the corners.
This is a player who knows how to score-he's smart in the O zone with his shots and passes. He claims to have shot 250 pucks almost every day since he was 8 years old. He has a heavy shot with a quick release and can shoot hard and accurate in flight.
Alarie's speed lacks first-step quickness and burst, but has good top speed and is hard to stop when rolling down the tracks in top flight. Powerful stride and good edges-he can change direction quickly. The other aspects of his skating will probably catch up as he develops his lower body further. Central scouting has given him a "C" rating, meaning they feel he will go in the 4th-6th rounds.
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LHD William Trudeau, 6'0"189lbs (Charlottetown, QMJHL): Puck-rushing defenseman who was a late-round pick of Drummondville, but was traded to Charlottetown for P.O. Joseph. 8g/23a/31pts (8th leading scorer for defensemen) in 40 games, to go with 29 PIMs and a +/- of 34, which is third in the league. He plays second pairing with Oscar Plandowski, as the top two D on the team are Lukas Cormier and Noah Laaouan. Trudeau plays in all situations, including late-close scenarios.
Trudeau is a great skater with smarts and IQ. He strikes at opportune moments, taking advantage of his opponents' miscues. He can pinch, but only does so in situations where he can still adhere to his defensive responsibilities. Not overly physical, but will throw hits on occasion-he can separate his man from the puck in a number of ways, including with his positioning and stick. He causes turnovers, and disrupts rushes often. He's calm under fire, or when facing a hard forecheck-makes positive plays from nothing. High skill and vision. One has to wonder if he would have more points on a team where he had top minutes.
Central Scouting says he's a "C" prospect, meaning he's pegged to go in rounds 4-6, but I think he may go in the 3rd round.
Last edited by Sandman; 05-25-2021 at 05:20 AM.
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LHD William Trudeau, 6'0"189lbs (Charlottetown, QMJHL): Puck-rushing defenseman who was a late-round pick of Drummondville, but was traded to Charlottetown for P.O. Joseph. 8g/23a/31pts (8th leading scorer for defensemen) in 40 games, to go with 29 PIMs and a +/- of 34, which is third in the league. He plays second pairing with Oscar Plandowski, as the top two D on the team are Lukas Cormier and Noah Laaouan. Trudeau plays in all situations, including late-close scenarios.
Trudeau is a great skater with smarts and IQ. He strikes at opportune moments, taking advantage of his opponents' miscues. He can pinch, but only does so in situations where he can still adhere to his defensive responsibilities. Not overly physical, but will throw hits on occasion-he can separate his man from the puck in a number of ways, including with his positioning and stick. He causes turnovers, and disrupts rushes often. He's calm under fire, or when facing a hard forecheck-makes positive plays from nothing. High skill and vision. One has to wonder if he would have more points on a team where he had top minutes.
Central Scouting says he's a "C" prospect, meaning he's pegged to go in rounds 4-6, but I think he may go in the 3rd round.
Please, please fellow CPer friends, make no mention after this profile of the bumper stickers sometimes displayed in 'berta trucks...
