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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Few takeaways from Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings:
-C Caleb Malhotra is listed at 6'1.25", instead of 6'0". I'm liking him more and more.
-I was looking forward to watching RHC Alessandro Di Iorio this season, but he has yet to play a game with Sarnia (OHL), presumably due to injury. He put up 38 points in 58 games last season though, and was excellent for Team Canada at the Hlinka in a checking role, so much is expected of this young pivot- especially after being rated an "A" by CS. He's mobile and physical, attacks the greasy areas with tenacity to win pucks, and will lean into opponents in order to bull his way through traffic-like a prototypical power-forward. He is highly aware and well-positioned defensively, and while he owns exceptional vision to make plays in the other end of the ice, his best weapon might be his stunning release- which he should use more.
-C Adam Valentini was put on the "W" list, but many have him as a first-rounder. Also, they have him at 5'9.25",190lbs, and I thought he was a shade under 6 feet. At any rate, he has managed to rack up 6 points in 6 games for the U of Michigan, and doesn't turn 18 until April 11th! He wore an "A" at the Hlinka, and was one of Canada's best forwards (5 points in 5 games) with a workmanlike attitude, and a detailed attention to playing solid defense (tournament-leading +9). He is a facilitator who drives play, and does not play small-he wins battles, and employs a physical game.
-D Juho Piiparainen is listed at 6'1", instead of 6'2". I thought he was said to be 6'3" at the Hlinka....Either way, he's an excellent two-way performer.
-I knew C Brooks Rogowski was good, but I wouldn't have thought he would be rated an "A". Kid is 6'7", 232lb center who moves well for a guy his size. 13 points in 13 games with Oshawa (OHL).
-Ryder Cali is a 6'1.5" center who is quite young, with a September 6th birthday, and has put up 7 goals and 9 points in 11 games with North Bay (OHL). He was given a "B".
-Watch out for D William Hakansson, who was rated as a "B". He's 6'4.5", and a little older (Oct.8th birthday), and only has 2 points in 13 SHL games, but he put up 22 points in 42 J20 games last season, which is very good for a D-minus-1 defenseman. He's big, defensively sound, and quite mobile, but his two-way game might be underrated.
-LW Chase Harrington, who is "B" rated, only has 6 points in 11 games to date with Spokane, after putting up 50 points last season- he's too good to not rebound. He also has 32 PIM.
-D Ben MacBeath of the Hitmen is listed at 6'2" by CS, rather than 6'0", as on EP- and he's rated a "B".
-As stated by Ba'alzamon, Ilia Morozov is a 6'2.5" center, rated a "B" by Central Scouting, and has posted an amazing 7 points in just 4 NCAA games with Arizona State- he's also quite young, with an August 3rd birthday. He'll be a riser, for sure.
-D Charlie Morrison has yet to play a game this season for Quebec of the QMJHL, but he's a good one. He's rated "B", listed at 6'3.5", and plays a translatable shutdown game with a physical edge. He has some two-way ability though, and I'm sure scouts would love to see what he can do in his draft year, numbers-wise.
-I've seen C Olivers Murnieks listed in the first-round on some lists, but CS gave him a "B"- meaning that they see him as a second/third-rounder. He's another C to watch though, and has 9 points in 10 games with Saint John of the Q, after posting an impressive 35 points in 52 USHL games last season. CS lists him at 6'0.25" and 200 lbs, and he's a smart playmaker who plies an effective two-way game with physicality. My bet is that his point totals will look a lot more impressive towards the end of the season.
-I was a huge fan of Teddy Mutryn last year, and I really like his younger brother RW Casey for this year's draft. Casey (rated "B") is listed by CS as 6'3", 200lbs, where he is listed at 6'2" everywhere else. Like his older brother, Casey plays a heavy power game, hits hard and often, owns a superb motor, and actually has a modicum of skill to make plays.
-"B" rated LW Aiden O'Donnell (6'0.75", 182lbs) plays a hard-working power game with good two-way ability, but he must improve his offensive output- 7 points in 10 games to date with Brantford of the OHL.
-D Giorgos Pantelas ("B" rated) is a beauty. He's 6'2",214lbs, and has amassed an incredible 10 points in 9 games with Brandon (WHL). He looked good in a background role with Team Canada at the Hlinka, and is already a quality shutdown D with physicality, tight gap-control, and smarts. I hope he can keep putting up numbers. Needs work on his straight-ahead speed though.
-The Ruck brothers, Liam and Markus, are both rated "B". IMO, while both are ridiculously skilled, Liam is the more dynamic, freewheeling offensive dynamo and goal-scorer (and a RW), while Marcus (a center) is a bit more hard-nosed and gritty, and plays a more responsible defensive game as a playmaker. Before the season, Liam was talked about as being a potential first-rounder, and a future top-six NHLer, while Markus was betrothed as a mid-rounder who would make it on a NHL checking line. Thing is, Markus has posted 11 points (only 1 goal) in 11 games for Medicine Hat, while Liam has 10 points (2 goals) in 11 games for the same team. If Markus can keep up the offensive output, it will interesting to see who gets picked first. Markus is listed at 5'11.5",and 167lbs, while Liam is 5'11.75", and 176lbs.
-"B" rated RW Vilho Vanhatalo looked good at the Hlinka, and has put up 8 goals and 13 points in 15 games in Finland's U20. Central Scouting lists him as being 6'3",187lbs, and he uses his size well to make room for himself, and to finish his checks. He works hard, and is a good all-around player, but needs to increase his offensive output.
-There was a little hype around LW Braidy Wassilyn (rated "B") coming into the season, after last year's totals- 39 points (31 assists) in 62 games. He has only played the last 3 games for Niagara this season, after being out for a while, and has 2 points. There are still some who have him in the first round though. He's listed at 5'11",194lbs, and is considered to be a high-end playmaker with a quick set of hands, and an aggressive mindset.
-You can file the name Blake Zielinski (rated "B") under centers to watch for the 2026 draft. The six-footer was Team USA's best player at the Hlinka, with 9 points in 5 games, and currently has 8 points in 10 games for Des Moines of the USHL. He is a skilled and well-balanced offensive player, with sublime playmaking skill, and a deft set of hands; he pushes pace, drives play, and executes a solid two-way game.
-"C" rated center Nathan Amidovski (6'1.5",184lbs) is a good skater with endless motor, and is said to be a high-end stickhandler- able to make plays in small areas. Right now, he has collected 7 points in 9 games for the 67's. He needs to use his size more effectively.
-C Adam Andersson ("C" rated) is a 6'3.5", 199lb power-forward who is a presence along the boards, in front of the net, and down low. He exerts high motor, battles hard, and possesses good two-way awareness, but his feet hold him back a bit. Andersson has 7 points in 9 games in the U20 league, with Leksands.
-RD Sean Burick is a moving skyscraper at 6'7.5",208lbs, but has yet to record a point in six games with Penticton (WHL). His feet are the biggest weakness here.
-Another C to watch is Slovak Tomas Chrenko, who is rated a "C" by Central Scouting, but is still a first-rounder on many lists. He amassed 5 goals and 8 points in just 7 games at the U-18's, but only produced 1 point at the Hlinka. TC sees the ice very well, and shows well-balanced offensive skill, but is more quick than outright fast. CS lists him at 5'11",172lbs.
-RW Rian Chudzinski is "C" rated, but his dog-on-a-bone mentality and grit are A+. He's 6'0.5", 191lbs, and has posted 5 goals (no assists) in 6 games with Moncton of the Q (14 PIM, as well). Obviously, there's no play creation here, and his future as a top-six NHLer is doubtful at best, but Chudzinski is a good finisher and is always around the net, or driving the crease. He's an excellent skater, his motor never quits, and he's always in his opponents' faces.
-D Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte wears the "A" for Val D'Or, but is ranked "C" by Central Scouting, and it may be because he is remarkably inconsistent on both sides of the puck. He is said to be extremely physical (he is 6'1",185lbs), skates and handles well, but shows flashes of both good and bad on a shift-to-shift basis. Currently, he's at 7 points in 12 games, but I would bet he finishes the season with 50+.
-Matt Cullen's son Wyatt (a LW) is listed at 5'8",146lbs on EP, but CS says he's 5'11.25",174lbs. He has yet to play a game this season, but his totals last season for a poor rendition of the NTDP (31 points in 55 games) make me believe that he could pop this year.
-It will be interesting to watch Chris Dingman's son Sawyer (LW) toss carcasses all year for Swift Current of the WHL. He's 6'3.5", and already 224lbs, but like his Dad- he's not fleet of foot, and not supremely skilled. He punishes opponents, makes life difficult in front of the net, and barges through traffic like a hot knife through butter.
-D Axel Elofsson could be this year's Axel Sandin-Pelikka, as he's small in stature (5'10",164lbs), but has amassed an unbelievable 16 points in just 10 U20 games with Orebro- he currently leads the league in D scoring by five points. He also tied Oleg Tverdovsky's record for points by a defenseman at the Hlinka, with 11 in just 5 games. He's more quick than fast, and can struggle against larger opponents.
-Wearing an "A" for Chelyabinsk, D Yaroslav Fedoseyev (6'1",181lbs) is sixth in the MHL in D scoring (10 points in 11 games), and second in ppg (0.91) as a 17 year-old (although he's a bit older with a November 5th birthday), earning a 5-game stint in the VHL (no points).
-D Colin Feeley is a 6'7",190lb monster who patrols the blueline for Oshawa of the OHL, and has 3 points in 10 games. Feeley is very raw, and will a long-term project, but skates very well for a player his size, and uses his reach to his advantage.
-C Layne Gallacher is another pivot on the watchlist. Measuring 6'1",180lbs, Gallacher has put up 8 points in 10 games (on pace for 55 points), with an admirable +7. He's a quality two-way C, who might be playing down the lineup on a talent-laden Brantford (OHL) team, but brings grit, tenacity, speed, pace, and a solid two-way game with some power and physicality.
-Surprised to see D Adam Goljer getting a "C" rating, with all the hype he generated at the Hlinka. The youngster is playing in the men's league in Slovakia, and only has 1 point in 11 games, but is a 200-ft minute-muncher who can do a bit of everything, with a specialty in moving pucks neatly, and shutting down the other team's top players.
-I really like C Max Isaksson's performance at the Hlinka (6 points in 5 games), while wearing the "C" for Sweden- CS has him at 6'0",185lbs. Central Scouting gave him a "C" rating as well, but I believe he'll be a riser-possibly as high as the second-round. Isaksson is a leader, and though he's not flashy, he's solid in every area, and above average in every trait- right now, he has 10 points in 9 U20 games with Vaxjo.
-D Brayden Klimpke (5'11",165lbs) is rated "C" by Central Scouting, but could potentially climb into the second-round. Though small for a D-man, he battles hard, plays a physical brand of shutdown hockey, and owns a solid game in all three zones. He's a good puck-mover and transitional player, even if he's not the fastest player out there. 12 points in 12 games for Saskatoon, while wearing an "A".
-LW Jean-Christoph Lemieux (5'11.25",180lbs) played a background checking role at the Hlinka, but I thought he acquitted himself well in limited minutes. He's gritty, plays with pace and aggression, forechecks violently, and hits hard and often. He is already a capable defensive player, but has some offensive skill as well, putting up 7 points in 8 games while playing down the lineup on a deep Windsor Spits team.
-"C" rated RW Kayden Lemire is off to a good start for Prince George of the WHL, and could be a riser. 8 points in 9 games, while playing a physical power game with hints of skill.
More to come....
Last edited by Sandman; 10-21-2025 at 03:28 AM.
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