Wheeler's prospect pool ranking

Teams 32-25

Hello everyone,

With no content to talk about without any actions in the dchl, my weekly what's hot/what's not will be pushed back to after the games have resumed, meanwhile, spreadout through multiple segments, ill go through the Scott Wheeler's prospect pool ranking from the nhl while also adding dchl ownership.  Lets get right to it!

Rank #32  Seattle Kraken

    1. Matty Beniers, C, 19 (Arizona Coyotes)

He never seems to put passes into feet. He keeps a ton of plays alive with his ability to weave around bodies along the wall and play through bumps because he keeps his feet and hands moving in unison (which also helps him shade pucks in transition) when it looks like he’s closed out. He’s thriving in transition and attacking on angles on entry. But the biggest step forward in Beniers’ game this season has been the progression of his shot into a real weapon.

2. Ryan Winterton, RW, 18 (Colorado Avalanche)    
3. Ryker Evans, LHD, 20 (TB Lightning)
4. Ville Ottavainen, RHD, 19 (Seattle Kraken)
5. Luke Henman, C, 21 (Vancouver Canucks)

Rank #31 New York Islanders

1. Aatu Raty, C, 19 (Florida Panthers)

It’s clear that confidence plays a big role in Raty’s play. When he has it, he hangs onto the puck more, uses his size and quick hands to attack the middle of the ice,  keeps his feet moving to work to get pucks back, and shoots to score with a release that pops off of his blade.

2. William Dufour, RW, 19 (Anaheim Ducks)
3. Simon Holmstrom, LW/RW, 20 (Winnipeg Jets)
4. Ruslan Iskhakov, C/W, 21 (Vancouver Canucks)
5. Samuel Bolduc, LHD, 21 (Detroit Red Wings)


Rank #30 Tampa Bay Lightning

1. Cal Foote, RHD, 22 (New Jersey Devils)

He’s a big, heavyset defender who uses his strength advantage to lean on players along the cycle, win battles and rub players out off the rush. Given his size, his talent level also grades out favourably, with a hard shot that can beat goalies from a distance (through a low snap or more of a wind-up) and passable hands for his size. How his skating holds up at NHL pace has always been the big question in terms of his projection, a question which has produced middling results thus far. He moves well forward and backward, with balanced pushes that generate good power a few strides into his skating motion. 

2. Jack Thompson, RHD, 19 (Unknown/free agent)  
3. Dylan Duke, LW, 18 (Vancouver Canucks)
4. Hugo Alnefelt, G, 20 (Montreal Canadiens)
5. Jack Finley, C, 19 (Carolina Hurricanes)


Rank #29 Pittsburgh Penguins

1. Samuel Poulin, RW/LW, 20 (Vancouver Canucks)

He’s got desirable size and strength, which keeps him over pucks and allows him to take some pumps when he’s driving off the wall. He’s also got versatile skill to his game which combines quietly quick hands with surprising softness to his touch.

2. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, LHD, 22 (Minnesota Wilds)
3. Joel Blomqvist, G, 20 (Calgary Flames)
4. Filip Lindberg, G, 22 (Buffalo Sabres)
5. Nathan Légaré, RW, 21 (Ottawa Senators) 

Rank #28 Vancouver Canucks

1. Jack Rathbone, LHD, 22 (Minnesota Wilds)

This is still a player who was one of the best defenders in college hockey at Harvard and played exceedingly well in his first taste of the AHL last season. Despite the 5-foot-10, 177-pound frame, Rathbone is capable of holding his own defensively while contributing both in transition and inside the offensive zone. And while he tops out as more of a PP2 guy than a PP1 guy, which limits his overall upside at his size, he’s a mobile four-way skater who is smooth through his pushes, agile through his crossovers, and comfortable transporting pucks in control.

2. Danila Klimovich, RW, 18 (Winnipeg Jets)
3. Jett Woo, RHD, 21 (New Jersey Devils)
4. Michael DiPietro, G, 22 (Winnipeg Jets)
5. Joni Jurmo, LHD, 19 (Florida Panthers)

Rank #27 Boston Bruins

1. Fabian Lysell, RW, 18 (Ottawa Senators)

Lysell is a dynamic, free-flowing skater who has rare top speed and agility with the puck on his stick. That’s where his game starts. And while his production didn’t pop in his bizarre draft year (a draft year that saw him play in the SHL by default when the J20 level, where he should have stayed a little longer, shut down) and didn’t pop to start in the WHL this season, things really began to click for him in late November and he hasn’t really slowed down (pun intended) since. Lysell’s not a one-trick pony either. The highlight pack is about the end-to-end rushes and the dashes through holes in coverage, for sure. But he can also dance a defender by pulling pucks through his wide stance and across his body to beat them with not just a lateral cut but his hands. And he can dance defenders to the outside with his high-end top speed or a quick change of pace (both of which grade out at or near the top of this draft. 

2. Jack Studnicka, C, 22 (Chicago Blackhawks)
3. Mason Lohrei, LHD, 20 (Anaheim Ducks)
4. Brett Harrison, C, 18 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
5. John Beecher, C, 20 (Vancouver Canucks)


Rank #26 Washington Capitals

1. Connor McMichael, C/W, 21 (New Jersey Devils)

He’s got an NHL shot that is threatening from mid-range and which he does a good job getting off from dangerous areas because of his puck protection skill (which includes his ability to protect out wide with one hand or attack on his backhand). He’s got a well-rounded two-way game. And his most impressive gift is his knowledge and understanding of the game as it develops in real time, evident in his consistently smart choices with and without the puck. 

2. Hendrix Lapierre, C, 19 (New York Rangers)
3. Alexei Protas, C, 21 (Detroit Red Wings)
4. Vincent Iorio, RHD, 19 (Chicago Blackhawks)
5. Brent Johnson, LHD, 18 (Toronto Maple Leafs)


Rank #25 Chicago Blackhawks

1. Lukas Reichel, LW, 19 (Nashville Predators)

He plays a modern, play-driving style on the wing, excelling with the puck on his stick, handling it with finesse, and using a smooth, almost effortless skating stride to transport it up ice in transition. He’s also a delicate handler inside the offensive zone, using impressive footwork to navigate in and out of pressure and bait defenders. He’s a multifaceted offensive player who is as effective playing off his linemates and using space as a tool to get open as a shooter as he is creating his own chances or using his ability to weave through pressure to draw attention and then facilitate. 

2. Nicolas Beaudin, LHD, 22 (Dallas Stars)
3. Colton Dach, C, 19 (Dallas Stars)
4. Drew Commesso, G, 19 (Calgary Flames)
5. Alec Regula, RHD, 21 (Washington Capitals)

Next segment on wednesday Feb 16th

Thanks for tuning in,
you stay classy, Dchl