01-25-2025, 06:23 AM
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#801
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 27):
LD Donato "Donny" Bracco (5'10",161lbs)
NTDP: 37gp/ 2g/ 12a/ 14pts, -5, 12 PIM
Donato Bracco is the younger brother of former Leafs second-rounder, winger Jeremy Bracco, but opted to play defense. If you look at the younger Bracco's offensive contributions for the NTDP this season against USHL competition (7 points in 13 games), his ppg of .54 would put him in a tie with teammate Drew Schock for 14th in scoring by D in that league when prorated, and first for D under-18. Bracco is still fairly young, with a July 26th birthday, and still developing his two-way game. Offensively, he's highly involved and moves around a lot, often leading the rush, and activating into the play from the point to sniff out pockets of open-ice using his well-honed spatial awareness. Though he isn't considered to be the most creative per se, and isn't very flashy or dynamic, he can quarterback a powerplay and connect with teammates in high-danger through traffic; he reads his opponents well, and can make smart plays. His numbers suggest that he's not a big goal-scoring threat, but he will sneak into the slot on occasion to whip one at the goalie, and will get shots through to the net to open up rebound opportunities for teammates.
Bracco is an excellent skater with smooth edges to stay shifty and elusive, with quick changes in pace and direction- but he could use work on his top speed. To amplify his quickness, he owns a deep arsenal of 1-on-1 moves and manipulation skills to deceive opponents into moving one way, while he goes in the opposite direction. Despite his size, he is surprisingly physical, throwing hits to dislodge pucks, and playing a bit rough in defending his net; he guards the crease efficiently and manages to keep attackers boxed out. In addition, he kills plays in the slot with his deft stickwork, and is a willing shot-blocker. Bracco is a hard-worker with high motor, and brings intensity to his defensive duties along with sound anticipation, but he is often mistake-prone and easily out-muscled. In retrievals, he shakes off attackers with deception in the form of fakes and dekes, in cohesion with his dexterous stickhandling. He skates with his head up to scan for options for the breakout, and can make smart, simple plays to kickstart the rush, but he runs into trouble when he gets too fancy. He can also be pressured into making mistakes, such as bad passes, and throwaways. There are other times where Bracco simply tries to do too much, forcing plays that aren't there.
Unfortunately, Bracco might not show enough offensive potential or puck-moving ability for a defenseman of his stature to garner interest from NHL teams, at least not until the late rounds of the 2025 Draft. In the 2024 Draft, there were defensemen better than Bracco is now (in my opinion) that were left undrafted. Though I have seen his name in various Draft lists and mocks, he was left out of Central Scouting's Mid-term Rankings. He is committed to Harvard for next season.
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01-25-2025, 07:08 AM
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#802
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 28):
RHC Andrew O'Neill (6'2",200lbs)
NTDP: 36gp/ 4g/ 7a/ 11pts, -23, 44 PIM
O'Neill was given a "C" by Central Scouting in their preliminary rankings, indicating a potential 4th or 5th-round pick, and was ranked 58th for North American Skaters in their Mid-term rankings- not too shabby for a checker. In his defense, he is a rugged C who scouts say has big upside, and an NHL-projectable game- even if he projects to be a bottom-6 defensive specialist. O'Neill plays with pace on both the forecheck and the backcheck, hounding puck-carriers and giving them no time or space to breathe. He causes multiple turnovers and takeaways every game, and though he forechecks like a demon, he truly shines defensively. Though his numbers don't show it, he has smarts, sublime awareness, and high IQ; he scans the ice with his head up, reads the play well, and owns plenty of raw skill.
O'Neill plays a hard, heavy physical game with intensity and high-motor- he never quits on a play, and is rarely outworked or outmuscled. He is always in motion, always involved, and always engaged; he is a quick mover who skates his routes hard. He uses his teammates well, playing a give-and-go style through transition, and uses cutbacks or delays upon entry to win time and space for his team. When established in the zone, he drives the net hard to look for garbage, but can make plays and owns a decent shot. He will go through defenders, just as soon as he will go around them. He also carries some decent puck-skill, and protects the puck exceptionally well, but he isn't flashy or dynamic in any way and he is not elite in any area. O'Neill is reliable in all three zones, and angles opponents out of the middle, sealing them off with a tight gap as though he were a defenseman. He supports teammates in all areas, including his D when the puck is down low, but at this stage- he's not much of a play-driver or offensive facilitator. O'Neill displays exceptional off-puck awareness, and is seemingly always in a good proactive position to perform his duties-even if those duties are providing his team with sound defense. Look for him in the 4th, or 5th round of the draft. He is committed to the University of North Dakota for next season.
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01-25-2025, 12:42 PM
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#803
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aarongavey
I am way more curious about what later round gems the Flames will find. Between 2011 and 2019 the Flames had 32 picks after the 3rd round (little more than 3 a year when theoretically they should have had 4 a year). Out of those 32 picks nine players played at least 30 NHL games with a number of very good players being found (9/32 - 28% hit rate).
The players that played more than 30 games were
Gaudreau (draft year 2011)
Broissant (2011)
Kulak (2012)
John Gilmour (2013)
Mangiapane (2015)
Phillips (2016)
Ruzicka (2017)
Pospisil (2018)
Wolf (2019)
Outside of Gilmour and Phillips (I believe Ruzicka could have been a player but for the off ice problems) the other 7 are legitimate NHL players. Flames just need more picks in general, they find talent in all areas of the draft.
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Interestingly, Ruzicka is having a pretty good season.
45GP 19G 15A 34PTS
He is producing at a much higher rate than former 1st round pick German Rubtsov 45GP 12G 5A
Ruzicka seems to be the #1C on his team (based on production anyway), and leads his entire team in goals, and is in a 3-way tie for the team lead in points. It is also obviously a pretty good team, as they sit 3rd in the west right now. Ruzicka sits at 37th overall in scoring.
Yes, he got derailed in NA with his off-ice issues and I am glad that the Flames moved on from him, as one can only assume that they tried to help him. However, it does show that the Flames have been finding good players deep into the draft. If Ruzicka just stayed clean, he would have probably still been a Flame, and more than likely an effective player right now for them. Flames just keep finding players deep into drafts.
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01-25-2025, 01:43 PM
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#804
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Scoring Winger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Interestingly, Ruzicka is having a pretty good season.
45GP 19G 15A 34PTS
He is producing at a much higher rate than former 1st round pick German Rubtsov 45GP 12G 5A
Ruzicka seems to be the #1C on his team (based on production anyway), and leads his entire team in goals, and is in a 3-way tie for the team lead in points. It is also obviously a pretty good team, as they sit 3rd in the west right now. Ruzicka sits at 37th overall in scoring.
Yes, he got derailed in NA with his off-ice issues and I am glad that the Flames moved on from him, as one can only assume that they tried to help him. However, it does show that the Flames have been finding good players deep into the draft. If Ruzicka just stayed clean, he would have probably still been a Flame, and more than likely an effective player right now for them. Flames just keep finding players deep into drafts.
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The funny thing is is we have lost a pile of assets the last couple of years with no returns. Forget that second rounder gone from off ice issues. Rucicka the same. Dube gone for nothing and had his play affected and of course gudreau left for nothing.
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01-26-2025, 01:37 AM
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#805
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Jan.25th Ryabkin watch:
2g, 1a, and a +3 in an 8-1 win over the NTDP. 6gp/5g/1a/6pts, even, 21 PIM.
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01-26-2025, 02:27 AM
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#806
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Scoring Winger
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Ontario
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Hey Sandman, I might have (probably) missed it. Any thoughts on Simon Wang?
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01-26-2025, 03:32 AM
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#807
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 29):
RW Jacob Kvasnicka (5'11",159lbs)
NTDP: 36gp/ 10g/ 11a/ 21pts, -11, 6 PIM
Winger Jacob Kvasnicka is a two-way sparkplug who plays with jam, and is 5th in scoring on the NTDP's U-18 squad. Kvasnicka was awarded a "C" in Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings, anointing him as a possible 4th or 5th-round pick, and he was ranked 129th on their list of North American Skaters on their Midterm List. The first think you will notice when watching Kvasnicka is speed, speed, speed. He wins races to loose pucks, beats defenders wide, and burns opponents in open ice with a fervent pace that is difficult to match. His quick hands compliment his speedy feet, with slick stickhandling that allows him to deke through attackers, but he will also play through contact, and skate through hands if needed. He's a high-activity energy player with good motor and a tireless work-ethic who plays with intensity and brings grit to his line; he competes hard, and strives to make a difference. Despite his lack of size, he initiates contact early and often to create space for his linemates and dislodge pucks. He often gains inside position and outbattles larger combatants in 50/50's.
Kvasnicka displays some value in transition, and participates in a rather high number of controlled exits and entries by using his teammates in give-and-go sequences. Once his team is established in the offensive zone, he shows off his intelligence by finding space to operate in and get open for passes, timing his arrival to high-danger areas. On the cycle, he flaunts positive awareness and positioning to help support the play. There's a fair amount of shooting and passing skill in his repertoire, but he may lack the degree of vision and creativity required to make it as a top-6 player at the next level. He's at his best when he keep things on the simple side, but he does have the confidence to try some of the more higher-end plays, with mixed results; he often tries to force passes that aren't there. He looks to make passes to the slot, and aims to get pucks through to the net to create second-chance opportunities for teammates. Kvasnicka seems to do his best work in the defensive zone, wielding high-end defensive instincts and awareness, along with exemplary positioning; he plays a fairly detailed game with a lot of proactive stick-lifts, blocks, and interceptions. If a team sees fit to draft Kvasnicka, he may have to wait until later rounds, and I think he's most likely a bottom-6 defensive specialist if he ever makes it. He is committed to the University of Minnesota for this upcoming fall.
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01-26-2025, 03:53 AM
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#808
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sch19lks
Hey Sandman, I might have (probably) missed it. Any thoughts on Simon Wang?
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I didn't see much of him while he was still playing in the OJHL, but I recently caught a bit of him playing for Oshawa, and I got a tear in my eye. He's a wonderful skater, especially for a 6'6" defenseman- like, shockingly smooth and agile. I can't figure out if he lacks offensive skill (no points in 9 games), or if he's still adjusting to playing in a better league, but he has good ideas. Still, I'm not sure if he'll be a points-producer at higher levels.
Defensively, he's a beauty. There's a bad read here and there, and he can be pressured into mistakes and giveaways, but he almost always makes a sound play with the puck on retrievals, and on his outlets, and he's got immaculate positioning and enormous range. He's quite physical, which I really like. This kid is still quite raw, so I'm going to watch him a few more times before I do a write-up, but I can see now why scouts are excited. He could really be something in the future.
Last edited by Sandman; 01-26-2025 at 03:57 AM.
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01-26-2025, 06:32 AM
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#809
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 30):
LHC James Hagens (5'10.5",176lbs)
Boston College (NCAA): 23gp/ 6g/ 19a/ 25pts, +18, 6 PIM.
I would dare to say that James Hagens had a bit more luster after the 2023-24 season than he does at the present time; nobody would have challenged the notion that he would be the first-overall pick in the 2025 Draft last summer, but there are a few doubters now. Bob McKenzie stated in his Mid-season Draft Rankings that scouts have anointed Matt Schaefer the most-likely first-overall pick this summer, with the only race being Hagens, Misa, and Martone vying for the number-2 spot. He also declared that some scouts that he has talked to have projected Hagens to be a second-line C in the NHL. Hagens has produced the best numbers all-time for the U-17 Tournament (21 points in 7 games in 2023), the U-18 Tournament (22 points in 7 games in 2024), and is the 8th-highest scorer in a NTDP season (102 points in 58 games in 2023-24). In the current season, he is tied for 31st-overall in the NCAA with 25 points in 23 games, playing on the highest-ranked team in the NCAA, the Boston College Eagles. Those numbers should be considered mind-blowing for any draft-eligible freshman, but when his points-per-game (1.09) is compared to some recently-drafted, highly regarded centers in the same situation, namely Jack Eichel (1.78 ppg), Adam Fantilli (1.81 ppg), and Mack Celebrini (1.68), suddenly a 5'10"center might not shine quite so bright to a team with a top-3 pick. In Hagens' defense, he is most likely being asked to be much more defensively responsible against men than he ever has been before in lower levels, and he has responded with the 4th-best plus-minus in the NCAA, at +18. That's something, right?
Hagens is a high-end, dynamic offensive weapon and game-breaker with incredible skill, who has a near-psychic way of seeing the ice and reading his opponents. His passes are crisp and accurate, with perfect precision and timing, and are often directed right to a teammate's wheelhouse in high-danger. His vision is uncanny, his creativity is incredible, and his awareness is spectacular, allowing him to connect on the most jaw-dropping plays through the smallest seams, with every kind of pass imaginable- from slip passes, to drop passes, to saucer passes, as well as over sticks, under sticks, and through triangles. He possesses elite hockey IQ, and is always a few steps ahead of the action, with the ability to constantly drive play. Though he leans towards playmaking as his main weapon of choice, he owns a strong shooting arsenal and can pick corners with a rather hard and accurate wrister, but he can fool goalies in-tight with his silky-smooth hands as well. He will also crash the net to cash in on loose pucks. To augment his quick-strike offense, he diplays superb puck-skill and protection ability to handle around his opponents' sticks, or out of their reach, and the moves to turn defenders inside-out. Hagens' deception and manipulation are high-end as well, with every fake, look-off, toe-drag, and deke available to open lanes for passing, or to get around in traffic. It's difficult to strip him of the puck, and he manages to attack the middle by pass, or by foot. Most of the above qualities mask the fact that he's not all that impressive in the speed department; he's quick and shifty, with smooth edges and agility to change pace and direction, but he has plenty of room to get faster. Though his speed isn't much of a detriment, he's no Jack Hughes.
Hagens is highly involved in transition, showing the capability to skate dynamic routes through the neutral zone by weaving in-and-out of traffic and challenging defenders. His intelligent off-puck game opens gaps for teammates, while giving him advantageous positioning, often in pockets of space in high-danger, ready to receive a pass. Defensively, his engagement and effort can come and go, but he exhibits solid positional awareness with a well-timed stick. When he's on, he's persistent and can be disruptive in intercepting passes and clogging lanes, and he will support his D down low, but he can also be caught cheating in leaving the zone early. It's difficult to evaluate his defensive presence though, as the puck in usually in the other end of the rink when he's out on the ice, but I would say his impact in his own zone is around average. Hagens can push pace, and has good motor, but his lack of strength hurts him in puck-battles and he doesn't contribute much physically- he can sometimes take himself out of the play by dodging a hit. He will throw the odd bodycheck to win possession though, and he's willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice, but he must get stronger and faster. Building on his shot would be a good thing, too. He's going to be picked in the top-4 of the 2025 Draft.
Last edited by Sandman; 01-26-2025 at 08:31 PM.
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01-27-2025, 03:08 AM
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#810
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 31):
RW Blake Arrowsmith (6'1",190lbs)
London (OHL): 15gp/ 4g/ 2a/ 6pts, even, 4 PIM
Niagara (OHL): 20gp/ 4g/ 7a/ 11pts, even, 27 PIM
As I was watching the London Knights play earlier this season, I was unintentionally introduced to American winger Blake Arrowsmith, who stood out to me even though he was playing a support role with hardly any ice-time. The next time I noticed him was when I was checking in on his stats, and noticed that he had been traded to the Niagara IceDogs (who are currently tied with 4 teams for 6th-overall, and 3rd in goals-for), and that he had compiled 7 points in his first 7 games. Obviously, his scoring pace has cooled considerably since then, but it's a good bet that he's playing lower in the lineup on a talent-laden IceDogs squad behind some of their top talent. He might be a bit more raw than most, as he played most of the 2023-24 season in the GOJHL, which is a Junior B league. There's certainly no guarantee that he'll even be drafted this summer by an NHL club, and he's pretty low on Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings- at 186th for North American Skaters, but I like him.
First thing that stands out about Arrowsmith is that he's an excellent skater who plays with remarkable pace, although there's a bit of room to build on as his stride is a touch stiff and choppy- still, he manages to generate good speed. He plays a power game, using his frame to gain leverage to cut inside, and he throws his weight around quite a bit. He's menacing in battles along the boards and in the corners, and he plays a hard, heavy game down low- he's also a tough kid who will drop the gloves if challenged. Arrowsmith is uncommonly strong, and can be mean, as well as difficult to play against. He often wins inside position on opponents, and will drop a shoulder and lean in to push his way to the net, or simply skate through the hands of checkers; he attacks the crease, and powers his way to the middle to shoot. He often parks in front of the net to screen the goalie, cause havok, and vie for tips and loose pucks. Arrowsmith owns a hard, heavy shot with a goal-scorers instinct to locate open space in the slot to get open- he has a quick, accurate release and he can score from a distance. Right now, he's a volume shooter, but he can make plays- usually keeping things simple and risk-free, but he sometimes shows glimpses of vision and playmaking ability. There are times that he can connect with teammates through small spaces in traffic, and he tries to funnel pucks to the slot consistently. On the backcheck, he works hard in hounding puck-carriers and removing time and space from attackers to cause turnovers in order to limit defensive zone time. He seems to apply a consistently high-level workrate, with excellent motor and compete. I'm not sure what his ceiling looks like, or if he has enough projectable qualities to be drafted, but I like this kid. If he's picked, he might have to wait until the later rounds.
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01-27-2025, 05:15 AM
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#811
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 32):
RW Travis Hayes (5'11",168lbs)
Soo Greyhounds (OHL): 42gp/ 11g/ 12a/ 23pts, +1, 34 PIM
After a 2023-24 season that saw winger Travis Hayes post 35 points over 58 games in his rookie season in the OHL, the numbers he has put up this year look absolutely abysmal. Part of the reason for his struggles this season is the fact that the Greyhounds went from 3rd-overall in 2023-24, down to 15th out of 20 teams in the current campaign, with a goals-for that also puts them 15th. The native of Ann Arbor, Michigan is brother to Pens' prospect Avery Hayes, and Blackhawks' prospect Gavin Hayes, and is one of the youngest players available for this summer's draft, with a September 3rd birthday. He took part in the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup for Team USA, but was only able to muster 2 assists in 5 games. Hayes is a tenacious sparkplug who goes to war in the trenches, gets his nose dirty, and wins battles along the boards. Despite his lack of size, he is inside-driven and gets to the net consistently with high-motor and a steady workrate every shift. He's very active, keeps his feet moving, fights through checks, and forechecks hard. It seems like he's in the middle of every post-whistle scrum, as he's a bit of agitator, and he finishes his checks. In addition, he's versatile and can play in any situation.
Hayes' shot is easily his most projectable skill, and it already looks NHL-calibre with a bomb of a one-timer, and a laser wrister that he can fire off in full flight with a deceptive release that can fool goalies. He possesses the innate ability to locate soft spots in coverage in the right place, at the right time to get a shot off, and will also drive the net for chances with soft hands that can beat goalies 1-on-1. When opposing defensemen attempt retrievals, Hayes is there to apply pressure below the goal-line in an effort to steal pucks. While he doesn't display the best vision or playmaking ability, there's flashes of high-end creation skills from time-to-time, and he can get quality passes off the wall to the slot for open teammates; most of the time though, he keeps things simple and doesn't try anything too flashy. Hayes' skating isn't very dynamic either, and is perhaps somewhere around average, but he makes up for it somewhat with his hustle, and by keeping his feet pumping hard. He is still able to push pace at times, but he's a bit of a straight-line player who doesn't really possess an extra gear, and can't often separate from attackers. Because of this, his contributions to transition get mixed reviews; there are times when he simply chips pucks out and in, and other instances where he completes short passes and hooks up with teammates for give-and-go's, but he usually seems to defer to others to carry.
Hayes is reliable defensively, and plays an active role on the backcheck by hounding puck-carriers relentlessly, blocking shots, intercepting passes to the slot, and sealing off passing lanes effectively. In his own zone, he exhibits smart off-puck movement and anticipation, and strong positioning. He wields a deft pokecheck, proactively lifts sticks, and gets into his opponents' space. Hayes is younger than most, which may mean that he has a bit of a longer runway, but he needs to get bigger and stronger, work on his skating, and perhaps improve his puck-skills for the next level. Right now, he projects as a bottom-6 complimentary player, but there's potential. He's ranked #117 for North American skaters, and I think if does get drafted, he may have to wait until later rounds.
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01-27-2025, 07:09 AM
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#812
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 33):
LHC Matthew Lansing (6'1",181lbs)
Waterloo (USHL): 28gp/ 6g/ 6a/ 12pts, +15, 14 PIM
C Matthew Lansing first turned heads at the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last summer, where he looked outstanding at times by buzzing all over the ice, pushing the pace with his speed, and by scoring a highlight-reel goal in the Bronze-medal game where he basically beat three defenders, as well as the goalie. He ended the tournament tied for the most goals with 4 tallies in 5 games, 2 of them coming in that Bronze-medal game against Sweden, which the US Team lost to leave them with a 4th-place finish. The scouts took notice, and Central Scouting gave him the rating of "C" in their Preliminary Rankings, and despite what I would call disappointing production in the USHL, they rated him #97 among North American Skaters in their Mid-term Rankings. As another indication of how highly thought of he is, he was 1 of 2 non-NTDP players chosen to fill in Team USA's roster for the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge (Ben Kevan was the other), though he finished with no points. Waterloo is 9th out of 16 teams in the USHL Standings, and Lansing is 11th on that team in scoring, but second in plus/minus (11th-overall in the league), seemingly playing down the lineup in a defensive role behind some older players. Lansing is a two-way pivot with a nice blend of power and finesse.
Lansing is a powerful skater who uses his speed to make room for teammates, and to push the pace- though he could use a little work on his top-speed and explosiveness. His solid edgework allows for quick turns and smooth lateral agility. His shot is hard and heavy but it can be predictable, as he needs to work on his release- he doesn't get his shot off quickly enough at times, and doesn't use enough deception to disguise his intentions. Lansing powers his way to the middle with his stick ready for the pass in the slot, and he will crash the crease to score in-tight. He is an opportunistic goal-scorer who will go to the net to sweep in rebounds, tip shots, pounce on loose pucks, and screen the goalie. Most would call him a skilled passer, but any signs of true vision or creativity come only in flashes; he can get the puck to teammates with some of the more difficult passes with crispness and accuracy, but he isn't much of a playmaker or driver. Lansing is considered to be a skilled player with sound enough stickhandling and deception to deke his way through traffic at times, but it's his puck-protection that gets him around the ice without turnovers, and he can skate through checks with this ability.
Lansing is a reliable, calming presence in the defensive zone with high awareness and anticipation to seal off plays proactively. He employs a good stick to block lanes, and poke the puck away from danger, but he also uses his physicality to separate his man from the puck. He hounds puck carriers relentlessly, suffocating them of time and space, and supports teammates in battle. Lansing gets involved in the greasy areas, wins 50/50 puck contests, and finishes his checks. He can play both sides of special teams, but specializes in killing penalties. He may be more suited to bottom-6 defensive duty in the NHL if he makes it, as he doesn't seem to read the play like an offensive player should. He is committed to Quinnipiac University, and I think he'll be picked in the 5th or 6th-round.
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01-27-2025, 10:51 AM
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#813
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Calgary
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Just released:
Upside Hockey's 2025 NHL Draft Rankings — January Edition
Our Top 224 rankings with a new number one rated prospect
- Our exclusive rankings go well beyond the first round - over 350 prospects included in this version
- Check out the tabs along the bottom such as Defense, Under 5'11, etc. for various unique rankings
- Quick access to Elite Prospects profile linked for each prospect for updated stats; click on the respective prospect name
- We have in-depth scouting profiles from our profiler Sandman embedded/linked within the rankings spreadsheet. As the prospect profiles are completed on our dedicated 2025 profiles page, they will under the third column "UH" (Upside Hockey) - simply click on that to be taken to that respective profile. For the 2024 NHL draft, we completed over 240!
https://upsidehockey.substack.com/p/...t-rankings-c96
^link to the full rankings spreadsheet in the above Substack post
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01-27-2025, 10:18 PM
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#815
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Scoring Winger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon
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That settles it. We're taking them all.
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01-27-2025, 10:25 PM
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#816
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Franchise Player
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon
That settles it. We're taking them all.
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__________________
WARNING: The preceding message may not have been processed in a sarcasm-free facility.
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01-27-2025, 10:42 PM
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#817
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Scoring Winger
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Would be surprised if O’brien or bear or reschny were there in the twenties. Schmidt may or may not.
If those guys are gone my guess would be Nesbitt, Martin, zonnon would probably be the guys the flames would be interested in. Nesbitt for me seems to have middle six c potential.
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01-28-2025, 02:29 AM
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#818
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 34):
LW Cooper Simpson (6'1",179lbs)
Shakopee High (USHS-MN): 19gp/ 25g/ 18a/ 43pts, 16 PIM
Winger Cooper Simpson, who is currently tied for 15th in scoring in the Minnesota High School circuit (5th in goals), was rated a "C" in Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings- which wasn't a big surprise to those who watched him in the summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He authored some great moments in that tournament, and despite finishing with only 1 goal in 5 games, he looked like one of the best players for Team USA at times. In 2023-24, he split the year between Shakopee High (29 goals and 54 points in 27 games) and Tri-City of The USHL (7 goals and 13 points in 31 games), but his best year for Shakopee came during his D-minus-2 year in 2022-23, putting up 2.33 ppg to lead the team in scoring (37 goals and 63 points in 27 games). In their Mid-term Rankings, Central Scouting ranked him 67th for North American Skaters, but I find it difficult to properly evaluate High School players because of the level of their competition, so anything that can be said about this player must come with an asterisk. Based on what little I've seen of his play in the USHL from last season, he looked like he fit in just fine in that league.
Cooper has a fine array of good tools as an offensive forward, and though he may never be a play-driver, he's an excellent finisher. He can really rip it, with a hard and heavy release, and he can beat goalies in-tight. He can fire off the catch and pick corners, but he will also crash the crease on the hunt for rebounds and loose pucks. He sneaks into open space in high-danger, but he will battle for contested pucks in the dirty areas. Simpson's high-volume shooting creates numerous chances for his teammates, but he's also regarded as a smart passer who sometimes flashes top-end vision and creativity by connecting with teammates on some of the more complicated plays after manipulating opponents into opening seams. He can make plays off the rush, and he's good around the net in manufacturing looks from short feeds to the slot. His skating is around average, but he reads the play well and his proactive off-puck positioning (one of his best qualities), combined with his hustle, helps to mask his speed deficiencies. Also disguising his skating is his fine puck skill and protection ability, that allows him to deke and dangle through defenders; he will also fight through checks and skate through hands. Despite not being the most fleet-of-foot, he manages to be able to push pace on occasion, and is effective on the forecheck in causing turnovers and putting pressure on puck-carriers. Simpson gets involved physically in terms of fighting for positioning in front of the net, and trying to win loose pucks, but he's not a hitter. Simpson is thought of as a three-zone player who holds some value in transition, and shows some skill on entries. Though he's not currently a stalwart (no High School player is) he seems to be well-positioned defensively to seal off lanes, and is a willing shot-blocker.
Scouts say that Simpson's biggest detriment is his consistency, not only game-to-game, but shift-to-shift; it seems like there are many different versions of him, as he can disappear for long periods of time. His compete and engagement come and go, and his reads are hit-and-miss as well- he makes plenty of ill-advised plays, and forces passes that aren't there. His decision-making and skating need work, as he can turn the puck over at inopportune times when under duress, and often lacks the skating to recover. Simpson looks like a possible mid-round pick, but he has some intriguing qualities. He will be attending the University of North Dakota in the fall.
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01-28-2025, 05:00 AM
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#819
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Calgary
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Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 35):
RHC Mason West (6'6",208lbs)
Edina High (USHS-MN): 18gp/ 18g/ 14a/ 32pts, 8 PIM
When I read Mason West's name at #59 on Bob McKenzie's Mid-season list, and #50 for North American players on Central Scouting's midterm rankings, I had to find whatever I could on this kid- and I was able to watch two of his games from this season with Edina High, who were the 2024 Minnesota State High School Class AA Champions. West is also being scouted by some Div.1 Football teams, and has received some scholarship offers; he is a QB who led Edina to the Class AAAAAA Final, with close to a 66% completion rate for 2,625 yards and 28 touchdowns. Mason West, the hockey player, is the highest-rated High School hockey player so far for this summer's draft, and while it's difficult to get a read on prospects at that level, it's quite obvious that he's an amazing athlete- and a winner.
West is quite hard to miss, as he looks like a moving skyscraper compared to most of his peers, but he's also a remarkable skater for his size with a powerful stride on long legs and a deep knee bend; he is fast enough to catch up to streaking opponents and pick their pockets with a stick-lift. His edges and agility are smooth as well, with the ability to pivot rather quickly and change direction seamlessly. Though he can make plays at the High School level, it's a good bet that his calling-card will always be his shot and his finishing ability. He can fire off a pretty hard and heavy shot while skating full-tilt, and is a very inside-driven player- he constantly drives the net, and is often spotted patrolling the slot waiting for chances. As he displayed in a game against Wyzata, he has excellent hand-eye coordination to tip in shots from the point, and on his second goal, he gained entry, hit the trailer with a short pass, got the puck pack, and then showed off his hands by scoring far-side, high-glove from the high-slot. Edina uses him on the point while on the PP, and he is often out there for almost the full two minutes. He's a good QB in football, and he brings that mindset to man-advantage scenarios on the ice, showing good passing skill and vision, with crisp and hard feeds that he get through small spaces in traffic. He likes running the play from the half-wall, as he can be pressured into mistakes and giveaways on the point. In all situations, he shows sound positional awareness and always skates with his head up to scan his surroundings to find open space to get to high-danger areas. West's stickhandling isn't anything too special, but his puck-protection makes it difficult to strip the puck from him, as he handles well outside the reach of defenders. In the games I watched, he made a high number of seamless entries.
West supports teammates in puck-battles, and employs some proactive tactics in defensive situations, such as tying up an attackers' stick before the puck arrives. He takes away the middle of the ice effectively with his enormous range, blocking lanes, picking off passes, and removing time and space with his reach. He does much of the same in the neutral zone, and he can kill rushes by covering huge swaths of ice with his wingspan and his skating. I noticed plenty of times where he was staying too high in the defensive zone though, and even leaving early, in anticipation of the breakout. West displays good leadership with the way he is often seen directing traffic, but he needs to stop tapping his stick on the ice so much to call for a pass- he needs plenty of work on his faceoffs as well, as he didn't seem to be having a lot of success against High School players on the dot. I was a bit disappointed by his physical involvement in the first game I watched, although he threw a hit or two to dislodge the puck, pinned multiple opponents to the boards, and used his size as leverage to win positioning and make room for himself. I was happier with the second game I took in, as he was much more physical and made his presence felt. Still, he conducts a lot of his business with sound positioning, enormous range, and a smart stick. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round of the draft.
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01-28-2025, 08:13 AM
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#820
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ontario
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Pronman's mid-season rankings out:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/608...aefer-pronman/
Top 10:
Schaefer
Hagens
Misa
Desnoyers
Martone
Eklund
McQueen
Frondell
Aitcheson
O'Brien
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