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Wheeler's prospect pool ranking Vol.2

24-17
2/16/2022 • Jean Brisson

Welcome, 
We will take a look at nhl team prospect pool ranks from 24 to 17.

 

Rank #24 St-Louis Blues

1. Zachary Bolduc, C/LW, 18 (Vancouver Canucks)

 This season, with the Remparts, he hasn’t touched the middle. He’s also a 47 percent faceoff guy over the length of his junior career. I project him as a left wing. That’s not necessarily a bad thing either, because he makes plays with such ease off the flank with the puck on his stick, especially off of cuts and as a passer. His background as a centre has also made him a reliable two-way winger who impresses on the penalty kill. And then he’s got a dangerous mid-range shot (which he gets off quickly and which also features a useful one-timer) and good overall skating which allow him to get good looks for himself and finish on them. I see a talented winger who can play on or off the puck effectively and create offence in a variety of ways, but also understands his role at all times defensively as plays develop. He’s got projectable second-line upside.


2. Jake Neighbours, LW, 19 (Pittsburgh Penguins)
3. Simon Robertsson, RW/LW, 18 (Ottawa Senators)
4. Joel Hofer, G, 21 (Vancouver Canucks)
5. Tyler Tucker, LHD, 21 (New York Islanders)

Rank #23 Florida Panthers

1. Grigori Denisenko, RW/LW, 21 (Los Angeles Kings)

With the puck, Denisenko’s hands can flash, he’s quick on his edges, and his playmaking can occasionally dazzle. He’s also a feisty, engaged player whose competitiveness is not an issue (though I do think he can occasionally chase the play a little too much trying to involve himself). How noticeable he is on the ice can contradict how effective he is, and I’m not sure his impressive all-around skill is complemented by his understanding of how to use it. But he’s an entertaining, active winger who still has a better-than-fair chance at translating as a middle-six contributor.

2. Mackie Samoskevich, RW, 19 (New Jersey Devils)
3. Justin Sourdif, RW, 19 (New York Rangers)
4. Michael Benning, RHD, 20 (free agent)
5. Logan Hutsko, RW, 22 (Chicago Blackhawks)


Rank #22 Vegas Golden Knights

1. Brendan Brisson, C/W, 20 (Arizona Coyotes or New York Rangers)

Brisson, who leads the Wolverines in goals this year, has great hands and poise, that lethal one-timer, a shot that is pinpoint accurate even in tight when it’s harder to place, an ability to maneuver and manipulate inside the offensive zone while processing the game, and a sense for how to expose pressure points and use space to his advantage. His skating remains average but his reads and anticipation mute the issues that average skating can sometimes create for other players.

2. Lukas Cormier, LHD, 19 (Edmonton Oilers) 
3. Zach Dean, C, 19 (Minnesota Wilds)
4. Pavel Dorofeyev, LW/RW, 21 (Vegas Golden Knights)
5. Ivan Morozov, C, 21 (Washington Capitals)

Rank #21 Colorado Avalanche

1. Alex Newhook, C, 21 (Los Angeles Kings)

 He’s an explosive skater who can build to his high-end top speed through aggressive crossovers or powerful forward extensions. He’s sturdy and strong on his feet, too, with a balanced stride that helps him shed bumps and physical engagements to push to his spot and make plays. That speed and strength are put to good use too, blending with quick hands, a disguised release, and impressive processing power at top speed to create a multi-faceted threat who can get to the slot to score, make plays in transition, and execute as a passer. Defensively, his active approach and skating also give him forechecking value.

2. Oskar Olausson, RW/LW, 19 (Florida Panthers)
3. Justin Barron, RHD, 20 (Minnesota Wilds)
4. Sean Behrens, LHD, 18 (Minnesota Wilds)
5. Martin Kaut, RW, 22 (Colorado Avalanche)

Rank #20 Arizona Coyotes

1. Dylan Guenther, RW, 18 (Philadelphia Flyers)

He’s a flowing player who excels in transition, crossing over to build speed and attacking on angles across the line and breezing through neutral ice in possession to make plays off the rush. And while he uses a pretty high grip on his stick, his quick hands flash side to side, he catches pucks into a shooting stance out of cuts with silky touch, and his shot is threatening from mid-range because of its accuracy and power (which has increased enough to be a weapon long-range fairly consistently now). It’s also evident that he added some strength into this season, adding to his multi-faceted offensive package off the flank. Inside the offensive zone, his ability to handle the puck in traffic, play pucks into space, and shape and hide his shot all impress.

2. Victor Söderström, RHD, 20 (Nashville Predators)
3. Matias Maccelli, LW, 21 (Winnipeg Jets)
4. Jan Jenik, RW/LW, 21 (Vancouver Canucks)
5. Janis Moser, LHD, 21 (Colorado Avalanche)

Rank #19 Edmonton Oilers

1. Dylan Holloway, C/LW, 20 (Philadelphia Flyers)

Holloway has always been an explosive skater who is normally the most athletic player on the ice. But he’s also got quick-twitch hands that keep up with his feet and a powerful wrist shot release which help him manufacture offence both off the rush and cutting off the wall to the slot to power past checks and get to dangerous spots to create chances. I’m still of the belief that he’s better suited for the wing than centre, but his versatility at both positions doesn’t hurt either. He’s going to give his line a different look and provide value and punch in all three zones, on both special teams. He stays in every battle, supports play, plays hard, and can beat defenders to his spots.

2. Xavier Bourgault, LW/RW, 19 (Seattle Kraken)
3. Philip Broberg, LHD, 20 (Tampa Bay Lightning)
4. Carter Savoie, LW, 20 (Buffalo Sabres)
5. Ryan McLeod, C, 22 (Seattle Kraken)

Rank #18 New York Rangers

1. Brennan Othmann, LW, 18 (Washington Capitals)

He’s got a lethal, masked release that he can get off of his blade at multiple points while still maintaining pinpoint accuracy. He’s got a silky first touch into quick hands. He’s got that sixth sense as a scorer, where he just finds holes in coverage and in goalies to finish plays at a higher rate than most. He’s got a heady spatial awareness inside the offensive zone and a good feel for where his teammates are on the ice. He plays a determined off-puck game that engages in battles even though he’s not a power type.

2. Zac Jones, LHD, 21 (New York Islanders)
3. Braden Schneider, RHD, 20 (Edmonton Oilers)
4. Vitali Kravtsov, RW/LW, 22 (Montreal Canadiens)
5. Brett Berard, LW, 19 (Vegas Golden knights)

Rank #17 Ottawa Senators

1. Jake Sanderson, LHD, 19 (San Jose Sharks)

Sanderson is an athletically gifted, pro-sized defenceman who skates at a high level, defends among the best prospects outside the NHL with his stick and gaps, and just has a rare presence about him. He’s going to be an excellent transition player (going both ways), his constantly-improving play and comfort with the puck has elevated his game offensively to heights I didn’t think he’d reach. He always had the ability to lead exits and entries in control and blend his power and mobility to snuff out opposing rushes the other way. 

2. Erik Brannstrom, LHD, 22 (Carolina Hurricanes)
3. Ridly Greig, C/LW, 19 (New York Rangers)
4. Jacob Bernard-Docker, RHD, 21 (Vancouver Canucks)
5. Tyler Boucher, RW, 18 (Montreal Canadiens)

That is all for today, sunday we will have a look at teams ranked 16 through 9.

as always,
You stay classy, Dchl