Things got a little harsh on Tynan Lawrence in here.
Still a top ten prospect DESPITE:
Starting in the USHL
Not having a full season in the NCAA
I think he's also the youngest NCAA player
Started out with injury
I think we haven't even scratched the surface of what this kid can bring to the table. And that's why I think he goes high even with the premium position boost giving him a hand.
Yeah I'd take Lawrence pretty high up. Is that over a fast riser in Malhotra or a bonafide top 10 prospect like Bjorck? Maybe.
Kids got a lot more runway to make the doubters eat the crow than most.
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Curious if there are any players of the Tkachuk/Martone/Bennett style set to be drafted in the first round? Forwards with skill and physicality that tend to stir things up. Sandman - any suggestions?
Things got a little harsh on Tynan Lawrence in here.
Still a top ten prospect DESPITE:
Starting in the USHL
Not having a full season in the NCAA
I think he's also the youngest NCAA player
Started out with injury
I think we haven't even scratched the surface of what this kid can bring to the table. And that's why I think he goes high even with the premium position boost giving him a hand.
Yeah I'd take Lawrence pretty high up. Is that over a fast riser in Malhotra or a bonafide top 10 prospect like Bjorck? Maybe.
Kids got a lot more runway to make the doubters eat the crow than most.
I still think there’s a player there, but he might be a longer development wait than most think.
Curious if there are any players of the Tkachuk/Martone/Bennett style set to be drafted in the first round? Forwards with skill and physicality that tend to stir things up. Sandman - any suggestions?
It’s an excellent draft for big power forwards (Belchetz, Hemming, Novotny, Suvanto, Nordmark, Morozov, Rogowski), but not so many agitators in the first-round. The one guy to watch out for in that category is maybe C Alexander Command- he is highly physical, and has a pesky, irritating presence.
In the second round, look out for winger Chase Harrington, who plays with fire in his belly, and there’s also Pierce Mbuyi, Jaxon Cover, and Landon Hafele- who is fierce and mean.
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It’s an excellent draft for big power forwards (Belchetz, Hemming, Novotny, Suvanto, Nordmark, Morozov, Rogowski), but not so many agitators in the first-round. The one guy to watch out for in that category is maybe C Alexander Command- he is highly physical, and has a pesky, irritating presence.
In the second round, look out for winger Chase Harrington, who plays with fire in his belly, and there’s also Pierce Mbuyi, Jaxon Cover, and Landon Hafele- who is fierce and mean.
Thanks Sandman. Of the power forwards that you listed, is there one with the highest offensive ceiling in you opinion?
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It’s an excellent draft for big power forwards (Belchetz, Hemming, Novotny, Suvanto, Nordmark, Morozov, Rogowski), but not so many agitators in the first-round. The one guy to watch out for in that category is maybe C Alexander Command- he is highly physical, and has a pesky, irritating presence.
In the second round, look out for winger Chase Harrington, who plays with fire in his belly, and there’s also Pierce Mbuyi, Jaxon Cover, and Landon Hafele- who is fierce and mean.
Pierce Mbuyi is a pretty interesting player. Great shot and dangerous around the net. For a player as light as he is at the moment, he also seems good at fighting through traffic and finding open areas. Depending who else is on the board in the 2nd round, I'd love to see the Flames take him. He strikes me as a player that could still have another level there when he physically matures more.
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Just saw the videos and I have a few things to say.
Verhoeff is a 17 year old playing against NCAA Division 1 competition; Reid is an 18 year old playing against OHL competition. Comparing those videos directly, it may look like Reid is making far better plays, but that's a misleading way of comparing the two players.
Verhoeff has some things he needs to work on, no question about that. But he's a younger player and has more time to develop his game. Reid may look great on film, but he's a bit over a point per game player in the OHL as an 18 year old... Verhoeff was almost a point per game in the WHL playoffs as a 16 year old.
Reid may be closer to NHL-ready at the moment. But if he was on track to become an NHL star, I think you'd be seeing higher numbers than you're seeing. I don't think I see a star in Reid. I think he will become a 2nd-pairing guy in the NHL who could QB a 2nd PP unit. Or maybe a 1st pairing guy on a non-playoff team.
In Verhoeff I see potentially the next Shea Weber or Aaron Ekblad, if he reaches his full potential. But then again, as with any prospect, he could bust. If he puts in the work, both in the gym and film study, I think he's going to be a great player.
Thanks Sandman. Of the power forwards that you listed, is there one with the highest offensive ceiling in you opinion?
I think that Nordmark and Command are being underrated for their offensive upside. Nordmark is a stud, just big, fast, and athletic. Belchetz might be the best goal-scorer of the bunch though.
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The thing that concerns me about Lawrence is how often in that video he ends up alone and on his backhand after he rushed the puck. I don't think any of the other top forwards do that. Other players make use of teammates more and open up their hips to see the play and find passing options.
I am a big fan of Bjorck and think he is ahead of Maholtra and Lawrence. I've mentioned this before but he has been 17 years old for the entire season and played the whole year in the SHL. He just turned 18 two days ago. He's listed at 5'10" now and his dad is 6'2" and his brother is 6'0" so I don't think it's out of the question that he ends up close to that 6'0" mark.
He put up 9 points in 7 games and was a go to player along with Stenberg as an underage for the gold medal winning Swedes at the WJC. I really don't think that there are any forwards outside of McKenna and Stenberg who have put up nearly as impressive seasons when taking age, competition level, and international play into consideration.
Stenberg has been incredible but Bjorck is 6 months younger. Stenberg put up 3 points in 25 games played as a 17 year old. Bjorck has 15 points in 41 games. Add to that the way coaches talk about him and Frondell also raved about him, I think he is a special player and he's the guy I hope the Flames take if they are unlucky in the lottery.
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I’d be happy with any of the defenseman (Verhoeff, Reid, Smits, Carels) or Malhotra/Bjorck.
Reid seems to have a lot of overlapping skillset (and deficiencies) with Parekh but if the scouts feel he’s BPA then you have to go with him.
The Flames don't need a defenseman so the BPA doesn't compute to me, if McKenna and Stenberg are gone the flames need to add to their weakness which is Malhotra for me, this isn't me jumping on any bandwagon either, I've been one of the few that's been pimping him since last fall when he was barely ranked for the first round.
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Mar.13th: I really liked "A"-rated LW Oscar Hemming at the Hlinka, who plays a more rugged and physical power game than his big brother, Emil- a Dallas Stars’ first-rounder from 2024. He's also bigger, listed at 6'3.5",193lbs, but likes to score like his sibling. The younger Hemming was a standout in that Tournament, placing first in scoring for Suomi, and tying for ninth-overall (third in goals, with 4), with 6 points in 5 games. Hemming has been limited to just 17 games this season, all with Boston College, posting 1 goal, 8 points, and 18 PIM so far. His aim was to play in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, who he signed with in August, after they chose him 56th-overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, but his Finnish club, Kiekko-Espoo, refused to release his rights, claiming that his contract wasn't legally terminated. He tried to get on with the BCHL's Sherwood Park Crusaders, but the IIHF threatened him with a three-year ban from competing in international events. Because the NCAA is exempt from having their contracts governed by the IIHF, he was off to play with the Eagles, and had his first game of the season on December 28th. Central Scouting has him ranked #11 for North American Skaters on their Mid-Term List.
While his scoring totals in the NCAA look rather meager, he has actually been garnering positive reviews for his staunch defense, and his ability to be physically imposing against men. As a junior-aged player who doesn't turn 18 until August 13th, he hasn't yet been able to exert the full extent of his offensive capabilities, but has nevertheless shown his effectiveness in all three zones, while outworking and overpowering College-aged competition. Hemming plays a hard-charging, straight-ahead power-game, devoid of much flash or dynamism, but carrying a ton of NHL-translatability. He bullies his way through traffic, knocks attackers off of the puck, muscles his way inside, terrorizes on the forecheck, and throws violent, bone-crunching hits that put opponents on their backs. Hemming isn't the smoothest skater, but he generates a surprising amount of power out of a rather heavy-looking stride, complete with a peppy short-burst to win races to loose pucks, and rapid acceleration up to a pacey top-speed that pushes defensemen back on their heels when he is barreling through the neutral zone. He is also fluid on his edges, capable of spinning off of hits, and making tight turns and pivots, while being able to change pace and direction adroitly. Like a fast-moving avalanche, he is strong on his skates, well-balanced, and difficult to knock off stride. While his handling is reliable, and he can maintain control of the puck through physical pressure, it’s his well-developed protection ability that best allows him to navigate up the boards, and lean into defenders to drive the inside. Oscar's office is down-low and in front of the net, where he's an immoveable object who looks for second-chance opportunities to pounce on loose pucks, and will drive the net with reckless abandon. Like his brother, he owns a powerful shot that can beat goalies from distance, the superb accuracy to pick corners, and an NHL-release; he also possesses soft hands to deke out netminders in-tight, and the fearlessness to attack the middle. Hemming may not have high-end creativity, but he has enough vision and passing-skill to make plays, often providing teammates with advantages. As a mobile power-winger with an avid physical presence, and a detailed two-way game, you can be sure that he’ll be drafted in the top-20.
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The Flames don't need a defenseman so the BPA doesn't compute to me, if McKenna and Stenberg are gone the flames need to add to their weakness which is Malhotra for me, this isn't me jumping on any bandwagon either, I've been one of the few that's been pimping him since last fall when he was barely ranked for the first round.
I Disagree. We could use more blue chip depth in Flames defensive prospect pool because none of our prospects have undoubtedly shown that they can be top pairing players for 20+ mins/game.
I like Malhotra though - would choose him first over any forward not named McKenna/Stenberg. Viggo Bjorck right behind those three.
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I Disagree. We could use more blue chip depth in Flames defensive prospect pool because none of our prospects have undoubtedly shown that they can be top pairing players for 20+ mins/game.
Even then, you need two guys on your top pairing. Parekh is only one.
Basically, at this point, the Flames need everything they can get.
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The Flames don't need a defenseman so the BPA doesn't compute to me, if McKenna and Stenberg are gone the flames need to add to their weakness which is Malhotra for me, this isn't me jumping on any bandwagon either, I've been one of the few that's been pimping him since last fall when he was barely ranked for the first round.
Disagree.
The flames are far from set on D, even the right side.
Agree that if the Flames are picking 1 or 2 McKenna or Stenberg is who they should take but if they’re picking 3 and Verheoff is 3 on their board, they should take him. He’s going to offer a different skill set than Parekh. Same goes for Reid. The flames are still in a window where they need to be taking BPA on their list regardless of position.
They can deal from a position of strength down the road if it comes to that.
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Flames need a top forward but always take BPA. If they fall into acquired #3 spot veroeff is the choice. But you never know - always a chance someone really likes him and takes him at #2.
Mar.14th: Another Swede who made a name for himself in last summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup, LHC Oscar Holmertz (6'0",187lbs) has put up 36 points (13 goals) in 34 games for Linkoping of the J20, which has earned him 11 games in the SHL (no points, and a -1). While his numbers in the J20 tie him for 26th in scoring, and 9th for U-18 players, he should be sporting even better stats when considering that he was able to produce 30 points in 32 contests in 2024-25 as a 16 year-old. Linkoping is currently 10th in the 20-team J20, but they were 6th in 2024-25. He was 4th in scoring for Tre Kronor at the Hlinka, with 7 points in 5 games, which tied him for 5th-overall in scoring. Central Scouting has him #20 for European Skaters in their Mid-Term Rankings.
Holmertz strikes me as an example of a player who isn't really elite in any one area, but is good at everything, with no true weaknesses in his skill-set; that might be a problem for scouts, as he may not possess enough "special" qualities to separate him from the pack. While he works hard, and plays a responsible two-way game, everything he does looks a bit half-hearted- there is a distinct lack of physicality and intensity in his game, which shows a bit in his 2 PIM on the season. There are two areas however, where Holmertz is approaching "near-elite" status, and those traits are his skating, and his stickhandling ability. Like most aspects of his game, his mobility is smooth and effortless, with a high-end separation gear that gives him the ability to leave pursuers in the dust, an explosive short-area burst to win races, an abrupt first-step, and rapid acceleration. He is also remarkably agile and maneuverable on his edges, able to stop and start adroitly, dart across the ice laterally, spin off of hits, and sidestep checks. He is more than capable of weaving through traffic unscathed, blasting through the middle off the rush, and beating defenders wide; he gains remarkable power from his crossovers, and explodes out of turns. Holmertz handles seamlessly when traversing the ice at top-speed, and keeps uncanny control of the puck- almost as if it were glued to his blade. He can manipulate the puck around sticks or through feet, with the ability to deke and dangle through layers of coverage- he is a high-value option in transition, and contributes to controlled exits and entries.
In the offensive zone, Holmertz is a well-balanced offensive threat who reads the play at an advanced level, but he doesn't really drive play consistently; instead, he takes what is given and reacts accordingly. A skilled passer, he finds distribution lanes through coverage, carrying the vision and high-end IQ to consistently find teammates in high-danger, with the deception to squeeze out the extra bit of space needed; true creativity comes only in flashes, but he's crafty and smart. I wouldn't say his shot is too threatening, but he places it well and has a tricky release to freeze netminders. He's not one to stand in front of the net to take a beating, and spends a little too much time on the perimeter, but will time his ventures into the middle to be there at just the right time for a high-danger shot on goal. Holmertz is a responsible defensive player, and has the skating to cover a ton of space on the backcheck, with smart use of his stick to break up plays, but more consistency is needed in his positioning, and his engagement. Some say that his awareness in this end of the ice is a bit deficient. With questions about how his offense will translate to the NHL, he might be more of a tools-based projection, which will still put him firmly in the second-round this summer, but there's a chance he may have to wait until the third.
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