Photo Credit: Maurice Parrée

Player Profile

D.O.B – April 22, 2000
Nationality – Austria
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’9
Weight – 165 lbs
Position – Left Wing/Center
Handedness – Left

Baumgartner’s Style Of Play

This is the third time that the Austrian forward has been draft eligible, and it has been somewhat of a surprise no team has taken a flyer on him before. Baumgartner and Marco Rossi have been a great one-two punch for the Austrian junior international teams for years now. The culmination of that (without Rossi) was that this year Baumgartner was the top scorer in the WJC D1A with 11 points in 5 games to garner his nation promotion.

At the pro level for Davos this year, Baumgartner was comfortably the top u-20 scorer in the NLA. His 0.73 P/GP was almost triple what any other NLA regular his age or younger could achieve. It is also worth noting that those numbers were suppressed due to his role. He started the year in the bottom six and hardly got any power-play time on a good team.

In terms of skill set Baumgartner is a plus skater with great edge-work and a nice burst that means he can pull away from opponents once he gets separation. He also possesses soft hands that, combined with good vision, mean he can feather beautiful passes to danger areas and anticipate openings that not many players see. He is a play-maker first and foremost, though he has a decent shot when he uses it. Additionally, he is by no means scared to go to danger areas, even though he is a bit undersized. While diligent defensively, he does not possess instinctively high defensive zone awareness, and there is no doubt that going forward he will be a winger both in Europe and if he can reach the NHL. He could play in the AHL right now and more than hold his own.

However, the big question with Baumgartner is whether he may fall into the “tweener” category. Not quite good enough offensively for a top six NHL role, but not good enough defensively for a bottom six role. If a team drafts him though they are getting a player who may well be an NHL third line level player in the next 18 months.

Comparison

Tyler Ennis, Left Wing, Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers winger and the young Austrian have a myriad of similarities in their games. Like the undersized Ennis, Baumgartner is a terrific skater, especially in tight when he uses his agility. Both have high-end hands, brilliant vision and can find lanes with seeing eye passes. Additionally, despite both being diminutive they have some fire in them, and drive to the net hard and relish physical battles, even if they are not favorite to win. They also both have a solid defensive game.

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Prospect report written by Alexander Appleyard. If you would like to follow Alexander on Twitter, his handle is @Avappleyard.

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Photo Credit: Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Cole Perfetti? More like Goal Perfetti. (I wouldn’t blame you if you shut down your computer after that).

Few prospects have been as fun to follow over the past 2-3 years than Perfetti, one of the top offensive threats from the 2002-born CHL class. Regardless of league, Perfetti’s primary points-per-estimated-60 of 4.11 was good for fifth among all eligible first-year draft prospects, moving up a spot to fourth among primary points-per-game with a 1.39 rating. That’s all thanks to an impressive 111-point sophomore campaign, a year after leading all OHL rookies with 37 goals and 74 points on a Saginaw team that came close to advancing to the league final.

Perfetti entered his draft year as one of the top prospects and he hardly disappointed. He started by winning gold with Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in August, highlighted by a tournament-leading eight goals and 12 points in just five contests. He then turned that opportunity into a shot at Canada’s World Junior Championship team at camp in December, and while he struggled to find his groove against older competition, Perfetti proved he could at least hang with the best.

Let’s dig a bit deeper into Perfetti’s abilities:

Player Profile

D.O.B – January 1, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’10
Weight – 185 lbs
Position – Center
Handedness – Left

Perfetti’s Style Of Play

Two years ago, you wouldn’t be blamed if you only noticed Perfetti for his innate scoring ability. Perfetti’s 52 goals were by far the most of any GTHLer in 2017-18, with just Brennan Othmann (Shane Wright’s teammate in Don Mills in 2018-19) beating Perfetti’s goal-count since 2015-16. Perfetti scored 37 goals as an OHL rookie, which, at the time, was the most scored by a U-17 player over the past decade before Wright upped the bounty with 39 this season. So, yes, scoring is a major part of Perfetti’s game. Perfetti’s wrist shot has been among the most dangerous in the entire CHL since his graduation to major junior, and he’s no slouch when getting off a slap shot or a one-timer. At this point, I will confidently say that the only players with a more impressive wrist shot in the draft are Alexis Lafrenière (projected No. 1) and Alexander Holtz (potential top five pick), if that tells you anything about Perfetti’s hard, lethal snipe.

Cole Perfetti has Canada's first goal of the tournament after a pass from Jamie Drysdale. The location will surprise nobody. #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/ihMROWT7Nm

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) August 5, 2019

But to make the most of his scoring abilities, he needs to put himself in those situations. Fortunately, Perfetti has the speed and hands to make high-reward plays at a quick rate, and he can contain possession on both the forehand and backhand with equal ease. While Perfetti’s goal-scoring abilities have never been questioned, his play-making maneuvers have been steadily improving over the past few seasons. In the past, he may have given up a good passing opportunity to instead force a shot on net, but as he’s gotten more patient and smart with the puck, Perfetti has nearly “perfected” the other aspects of his offensive game. That’s why, despite sitting at 37 goals for the second consecutive year, Perfetti increased from 37 assists to 74 this season in what was seen as a big development year for the dominant offensive weapon. Perfetti’s 33 primary assists at even strength were the most in the CHL among draft-eligible prospects. In fact, his 62 even strength primary points bested Lafrenière’s 59 for the CHL lead, so few kids his age were able to keep up with Perfetti’s numbers at five-aside.

Since Perfetti is so confident with the puck, he’s not afraid to let his creative side show. It’s not uncommon for him to make a behind-the-back pass and make it stick because his goal-scoring nature allows him to predict where others around him will go to finish off a play. He’s by no means a one-trick-pony: sometimes, he’ll forego a simple pass to a rushing defenseman to instead set up a defender and use it as a way of moving towards the net himself to pick up a rebound or make a future pass. In times where he’s outnumbered, Perfetti will play mind games with defense to drag them out of position – he’s always a main talking point for opposing coaches – as long as it means it helps out the team around him.

You can’t help but adore Perfetti’s power-play prowess. When you give him the extra space and time to work with, he’ll unleash his accurate wrist shot, he’ll find a way to make it work. Perfetti’s 19 primary points with the mad advantage were good for fifth in the OHL among draft-eligible prospects, but he also finished second among shorthanded points with four – two goals and two assists. He did most of his damage to the right of the net, shooting directly around the right faceoff dot without much competition around him. Teams started to adjust and hung a winger near Perfetti’s hotspot, but he often got his shots off quick enough to capitalize on the extra room.

Circling back to the skating front, Perfetti has good footwork and can make plays at a good speed, but his overall skating needs work. He doesn’t have a high top speed and will sometimes be caught standing still and watching the action around him. He’s good in spurts and can handle himself in stop-start situations quite nicely, and he can use his feet to avoid getting hit along the boards, but his lack of high-end speed is what bounces him down a few notches despite his strong offensive numbers. Perfetti’s skating is by no means a detriment to his overall skill level, but it isn’t at the point now where he can use it to his advantage just yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if he needs a year in the AHL following major junior to help work on that, but he’s got a good foundation to build around and should improve under NHL coaching.

Perfetti’s defensive game isn’t a standout quality, but it doesn’t need to be. Perfetti doesn’t have the size to throw a big hit and can be beaten in front of the net by a stronger opponent, but Perfetti, at the very least, can use his smart decision-making to fool the other team’s forwards and pick off a pass somewhere in the middle of the zone. Again, there are times where I’d like to see him get more engaged, but he wants the puck at all times, so he’ll typically find a way to retrieve it.

Comparison

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers

A scout gave me this comparison at the start of the season, and as the year went on, it quickly became clear why. Neither are big centermen, both came from a high-scoring background but eventually improved their play-making game and creativity isn’t an issue. According to Byron Bader’s Hockey Prospecting tool, Perfetti had the draft-year NHLe edge with 45 points over Nugent-Hopkins’ 38, and I personally think Perfetti is more gifted with the puck, so expect many 65-75-point runs in Perfetti’s future.

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This prospect report was written by Steven Ellis. If you would like to follow Steven on Twitter, his handle is @StevenEllisNHL.

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Photo Credit: Saana Hakala

Player Profile

D.O.B – January 11, 2002
Nationality – Finland
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’9
Weight – 172 lbs
Position – Left Wing/Right Wing
Handedness – Right

Simontaival’s Style Of Play

Simontaival is a real joker in the pack for this draft. There is no doubt that in terms of “natural” talent he is a first round level player. Just a couple of years ago he was already being talked about as a likely top ten pick for this draft. However, injuries have plagued him over the last two years. There are also legitimate concerns that he has not actually developed very much since he turned 16.

His skating is neither explosive or overly agile for his size, however, Simontaival really knows how to skate with a puck. He instinctively understands where to position himself and the puck in order to maintain possession even though he is undersized. This can lead to him being a puck-hog at times, and making poor decisions trying to find a perfect seam instead of a higher percentage play, but it is impressive to watch. His hands are where he really wins. The Tampere native makes you think he can probably do anything he wants with the puck on his stick. This ability transfers itself well when it comes to his passing game. He also has all the shots. Slap, snap, wrist and backhand are all pluses for his age. Simontaival is also not afraid to battle in the offensive zone, but he is not very good once he gets physically engaged. In the defensive zone he can look un-engaged and unaware at times, losing his man and getting drawn to the puck without understanding the coverage he should be in. Overall he is the kind of player that in five years it would be no surprise to see as a 60-point NHLer… and also no surprise to see as a second line Liiga winger. Boom or bust is often bandied about, but with Simontaival it is apt.

Comparison

Jonathan Marchessault, Forward (has lined up at Center, Left Wing and Right Wing), Vegas Golden Knights

Both the Finn and his Canadian counterpart share several tendencies and skills in regards to their offensive game. Like the Vegas winger, Simontaival has a wicked shot that he can get off from anywhere. Additionally, both have sets of mitts that can baffle opponents, and the hand-eye coordination to tip pucks home from danger areas. Despite their size they do not mind battling on the boards and at the net-front either. They both also possess high-end passing ability, and an instinctive understanding of how to get free in the slot and near the net. In terms of weaknesses, neither are the fastest for their size, and both are sub-par in their own zone.

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Prospect report written by Alexander Appleyard. If you would like to follow Alexander on Twitter, his handle is @Avappleyard.

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Photo Credit: Luleå Hockey

Noel Gunler is coming off of a strong campaign with Luleå HF. In 45 games played, the Luleå, Sweden native tallied four goals and nine assists. While the offensive numbers might not be as high as junior players in Canada or the United States, we need to keep in mind that there are several factors in play that make it more challenging for a prospect like Gunler to have comparable numbers to Marco Rossi, Jack Quinn, Dawson Mercer and others. One, in the SHL, more than often, players with seniority get more minutes and that means that players who are playing in the SHL for the first or second season end up getting less ice time. Several of the other Swedish draft prospects playing in the SHL this season like Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz averaged similar minutes to Gunler. Second, you have to keep in mind that the SHL is not a junior hockey league. It is the highest level of hockey being played in all of Sweden. Prospects in the SHL need some time to get their feet wet. It is similar to how prospects get their feet wet in the NHL. We rarely ever see a team throw a rookie prospect on their first or second line. They need time.

Aside from his play in the SHL this season, Gunler did suit up for Luleå HF J20 (SuperElit) and tallied six points in four games. While he had success at the junior level and at the SHL level, Sweden did not have Gunler as part of their World Junior team. But, Gunler was not the only promising Swedish draft prospect who did not make the cut. Zion Nybeck of HV71 and Emil Andrae of HV71 were not part of Sweden’s World Junior team. The only draft eligible prospects who appeared for Sweden at the World Juniors were Holtz and Raymond.

Player Profile

D.O.B – October 7, 2001
Nationality – Sweden
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’2
Weight – 174 lbs
Position – Right Wing/Left Wing
Handedness – Right

Gunler’s Style Of Play

When you flip on a Luleå game and catch #8 Noel Gunler, you see how quickly he can accelerate. Gunler’s speed is one of the best in the 2020 NHL Draft class. He can light up the jets pretty quickly. He favors his left foot when he starts picking up speed.

Not only is Gunler quite fast and possesses a great stride, but his crosses and edge work are in fine form as well. At times, his turning radius might appear to be a bit on the bigger side, but he has the ability to complete tight turns from time-to-time. It is just on occasion where Gunler might take a bit of larger turn.

One of the attributes that Gunler excels at is his shot. His accuracy is excellent and when I say excellent, I mean that Gunler will be an accuracy specialist at quite a few NHL All-Star Game competitions. When Gunler is shooting, he will more than often rely on his wrist shot and does a great job at pin-pointing the best corner or angle for success.

While Gunler is a strong shooter, his passing is nothing to sneeze at. Even when completing a button hook turn, Gunler is still capable of firing a crisp cross ice pass to a defender rushing into the offensive zone. He can complete a swift saucer zone exit pass into the neutral zone and a lethal swing pass when in transition.

But, there are instances in which Gunler’s decision-making leads to some inaccurate passing. For example, there are sequences in which Gunler is on a 2-on-1 and the pressure is tight and instead of passing in the slot to his teammate, he tries to go too deep into the slot and can not execute a shot or a pass due to the pressure. While that might not look too favorably for Gunler, you have to keep in mind that many prospects at his age are ironing out their decision-making. Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires gets into similar situations himself. It is all about learning from your mistakes.

From an aggression/physicality perspective, Gunler is not as aggressive as fellow draft eligible prospect, Lucas Raymond, but he is still is a reliable fore-checker/back-checker. He is not as consistent as Raymond when it comes to pressure. There are shifts in which Gunler sits back and then there are shifts where he is applying pressure along the half-wall and behind the net. In addition, when Gunler is challenging his opponent for the puck, he loves a slightly bigger gap than Raymond, but as I said Gunler is slightly weaker when applying pressure. Before I continue, that is not a knock on Gunler. There are not many prospects in this draft class that possess the high-octane pressure that Raymond will deliver from shift-to-shift.

Even though there are instances in which Gunler gives up a bit too much room, he will make up for it with tight blue-line pressure in his own zone. In the second clip that I posted, you can check out Gunler putting solid pressure on his opponent and then stealing the puck.

All-in-all, there is a lot to like about Gunler. His speed, stride and shot are his strongest components and are only likely to get better.

Comparison

A mixture of Jordan Eberle, Right Wing, New York Islanders and Phil Kessel, Right Wing, Arizona Coyotes

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stats from eliteprospects.com

Photo Credit: Jarno Hietanen / KOOVEE

Järventie had a ridiculous season in Mestis this year, on a pretty mediocre team. He managed to accumulate the most points ever for u-18 player and did not look out of place versus men. Järventie comes from a hockey family. His father Martti played one solitary game in the NHL for the Canadiens, and carved out a 20 year Liiga career as a defenseman.

Player Profile

D.O.B – August 8, 2002
Nationality – Finland
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’2
Weight – 185 lbs
Position – Left Wing
Handedness – Left

Järventie’s Style Of Play

Järventie has a great combo of size and speed, meaning he can be a juggernaut on the puck up the wing. He makes the kind of plays that can get GM’s, or anyone who loves “old-school” hockey salivate. At times you think you are back in the 90s when the big teenager decides to go through a defenseman instead of around them. He also has a brilliant shot and loves to let it fly. On the power-play he can look like a left-handed Ovechkin when he sets up off the right half boards and hammers away. The young Finn will go to the net front and take the pain as well, playing with snarl both there and along the boards. Finn’s might often be characterized as ice-cool… but Järventie has some fire to him. The big winger is a decent passer, but who you should not expect to thread the needle too often, even if he tries from time to time. He has good hands when he decides to use him. At the next level he will likely be a “complementary” player alongside a play-making. While he can carry a puck he is never really the guy “driving” play. His hockey IQ is a question-mark, and his despite his physicality and tenacity in the offensive zone he can look like a different player inside his own blueline. The defensive aspects of his game have to improve going forward. Järventie is a project, but if he hits he could well be a second line, modern day “power-forward”.

Comparison

Brett Connolly, Right Wing, Florida Panthers

Like the Panthers winger, the young Finn is known for having a fantastic shot. He also has a big body, and utilizes his plus skating to create dangerous opportunities. While neither are the most aggressive players they get to the net well and are solid on the boards. Their issues are also similar too, as like Connolly, Järventie has a questionable hockey IQ and a below average defensive game. If the Tampere native hits in the NHL I would expect him to have a similar impact as middle six winger Connolly as well.

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Photo Credit: Marissa Baecker / Kelowna Rockets

Player Profile

D.O.B – April 16, 2002
Nationality – Czech Republic
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’10
Weight – 170 lbs
Position – Right Wing/Left Wing
Handedness – Right

Novák’s Style Of Play

Novák is a shifty Czech winger who crossed the pond last summer to head to the WHL. What stands out when you watch Novák play is that he is a good skater, who is great at finding lanes in the offensive zone and creating space for himself. But he is not merely defined by his skating alone. He has a high skill level – which has been evidenced on numerous occasions at the highest levels of u-16, u-17 and u-18 international hockey, versus the best junior players on earth – with quick hands and an ability to control the puck well in full stride. Novák also has a solid shot that he can get off quickly when needed. Where he really wins though? Passing. No matter where he is on ice he finds tape all day long. This is supplemented by great vision and high IQ in the offensive zone, he can dissect plays developing and adapt what he is going to do to create high percentage chances. As a result, it is not rare to see a goal go in off the stick of one of his line-mates without the goalie having time to react.

The Czech winger is also fun to watch in the neutral zone. He is very effective at transitioning the puck up ice, and loves to get defensemen get on their heels by pushing play. He also has a real tendency to want to “get on his horse”. You can see him champing at the bit when off the puck, looking for opportunities to get up ice with speed. On the power-play he controls play well from the right boards, but also uses his puck-handling and vision to drift out to the blue-line to create seams.

But, there are some downsides to his game. He can play too much of a perimeter game at times, and while not “shy” when it comes to physical contact he is not generally a favorite to win a 1v1 board battle. At times he seems to lose plays in the neutral zone and defensive zone when off the puck, and his consistency shift-to-shift also needs improvement. In terms of NHL upside, he could well be a middle six winger down the line, who has the power-play ability to potentially be on a second unit.

Comparison

Andreas Johnsson, Left Wing, Toronto Maple Leafs

Like the Swedish winger, Novak is a smaller forward who relies on his speed, skill and energy to make an impact. Neither are great defensively even if they try in that area, and both can be found playing a perimeter game at times.

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Photo from Terry Wilson/OHL Images

Was Tyson Foerster this year’s most impressive draft riser? He’s definitley in the running.

Most public pre-season draft lists didn’t have Tyson Foerster ranked – or if they did, it was outside the top 100. Many scouts didn’t have much of a book on him. A 23-point rookie season left a lot to be desired, especially given how impressive he was with the Barrie Colts’ AAA minor midget team prior to the OHL draft in 2018. It was clear there was a pure level of skill that he didn’t showcase as a rookie, so a big sophomore campaign was in order.

Fortunately, he lived up to the expectations. Foerster exploded with 36 goals and 80 points as a sophomore, good for third among U-18 OHLers. Foerster’s primary points-per-60 of 1.02 was good for sixth among draft-eligible OHLers while finishing 33 points clear of the second top-scoring Colt.

Tyson Foerster had six points in the Barrie Colts 7-3 win over the Mississauga Steelheads last night. Foerster has 4G & 4A for 8 points in 4 games (tied for 5th in the OHL). Expect to see Tyson at the 2020 CHL Top Prospects Game in Hamilton on January 16th. @tfoerster8 #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/tOmPPhJEqV

— Ryan McArthur (@ryanpmcarthur) September 29, 2019

So it’s safe to say Foerster improved his fortunes, but that was more in line with what was expected of him when he was a third-round pick at the 2018 OHL draft. Foerster had 61 points in his minor midget AAA season and was one of the most impressive forwards at the OHL Cup to finish off the 2017-18 season thanks to a nine-point effort. One tthing was clear: Foerster, a big, skilled winger, knew how to create offense. He finally earned the praise he deserved, flying up the NHL’s Central Scouting Rankings from 41st among North American forwards at the halfway point of the season to 21st in the final rankings, and teams looking for a smart winger capable of hitting 40-50 points in the NHL some day could even consider him in the top 20.

Foerster showed true promise in 2019-20, so let’s take a closer look at why that was the case:

Player Profile

D.O.B – January 18, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’1
Weight – 194 lbs
Position – Center
Handedness – Right

Foerster’s Style Of Play

When the puck hits Foerster’s stick, watch out. With a strong, accurate release, Foerster possesses one of the most dangerous wrist shots among draft-eligible OHLers, and a high-volume shooter at that – his 3.63 shots-per-game was good for fifth among 2020 draft prospects from the OHL and his 149 even strength (sixth) and 71 power-play shots (first) made him a league leader. Equally as impressive, Foerster’s 19 primary assists was good for fifth behind a host of first-round prospects this year.

Like most notable goal-scorers, he’s proficient around the net and has no issue finding the right spot to plant himself in front of the crease to put pucks in the net. According to InStat, Foerster has a 60.3 percent success rate from the high slot, but Foerster’s a high-percentage shooter from the faceoff dots, too. His 59.6 percent shot attempt success-rate on the left faceoff dot is a big jump over Quinton Byfield’s 51.7 percent, while Cole Perfetti finished at 55.4 percent.

Why does this matter when the likelihood of a goal is limited? That’s usually true: six of Perfetti’s 37 goals came from the outside while Byfield found the back of the net just four times. Foerster had 10 goals from the perimeter – around 28 percent of his goals – but he still hit the net on 73 of his 122 attempts. Compare that to fellow Colt Aidan Brown, who had 19 goals to sit in team scoring (at 20 years old, nonetheless), and he connected on 38 of his 53 attempts – a better overall percentage, but with just one goal and much fewer shots. For further reference, Jack Quinn, who led all draft-eligible OHLers with 52 goals, had just four goals from the perimiter despite hitting the net on 75 shots (more than Foerster) on 120 attempts (fewer) – but nobody was better at capitalizing in the slot than Quinn. What does this tell us? It shows that, when compared to the OHL’s top prospects (sorry, Brown), Foerster is what’s considered a “confident” shooter and can be trusted in key scoring roles at the next level.

Specifically, when looking at the charateristics of Foerster’s shot, it’s his quick release – on a snap, slap or wrist attempt – that stands out among the rest of the OHL’s top prospects. When pulling off a one-timer, he tends to do so with fantastic accuracy, even when aiming from the off-wing. Once he gets the release off, you know exactly where it’s going – but it’s often too fast to get in the way. When you give him room on the power play, he’ll rip slap shots on net like you see from Alex Ovechkin, and that’s scary when you take into account how powerful his release is. And while he’s definitely a sharpshooter, Foerster loves to get creative when making passes and has the hands to keep up with the quick pace of a play. Scouts aren’t worried about his offensive abilities – he has all the makings of a 50-goal scorer in the OHL next season, but he just needs the help around him to achieve that.

There aren’t many complaints about Foerster’s game in the defensive zone. At tthe very least, he’ll cheat a bit closer to the blueline to get an edge on a defender on the reverse scoring chance, but Foerster is rarely out of position when utilized in tight siutations and has solid defensive zone awareness.

One of the biggest knocks on his overall game – and a reason he isn’t ranked higher on public draft boards – is his skating. It’s not bad, per say, but it’s underwhelming. He’ll often get beat in short burst situations due to a low acceleration speed and mid-range top speed. He can hold his own against other top players in this regard, but it’s what’s really seperating him from an extra 10 draft spots, given the speed posessed by many first-round prospects. That was especially noticeable at the CHL Top Prospects Game, and while he was one of the game’s top players, he lost his fair share of battles trying to gain control of the puck. His current speed is managable, but taking it to the next step will open up many more opportunities.

Comparison

Radek Dvorak, RW (Various NHL teams)

Dvorak was never a big point-producer in the NHL, but he was a reliable two-way forward that teams could easily count on to be an effective secondary scorer. Dvorak had a powerful shot that he wasn’t afraid to unleash from anywhere on the ice, matching Foerster’s biggest strength. Dvorak hit the 50-point mark on a handful of occasions, and that’s a realistic expectation for Foerster after a few years of further development.

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Photo Credit: HV71

Zion Nybeck is a diminutive Swedish winger who managed to put up the most points in SuperElit history this year for an u-18 prospect. Future Hall of Famer Anže Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings might be the only bigger offensive threat in that junior league’s history at a similar age. Though it is worth noting most players of that caliber are already in the SHL full-time at the same age.

If Nybeck was 6’0 he would be in contention for a top 10 pick… and is certainly a top 20 talent if you ignore his size. In this Swedish draft class he has been overshadowed by Lucas Raymond, Alexander Holtz and Noel Gunler, but that is not his fault, as it is one of the most talented Swedish forward classes in history.

Player Profile

D.O.B – May 12, 2002
Nationality – Sweden
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’8
Weight – 176 lbs
Position – Left Wing/Right Wing
Handedness – Left

Nybeck’s Style Of Play

Nybeck plays the game bigger than he is. He has a simply immense work rate and indomitable drive underpinning his game. His fore-checking means that opposition defensemen rarely have time to make clean passes and find lanes. He will go to the danger areas around the net and along the boards and battle with all his might. The Swede has some Danny Briere-like qualities to him in the offensive zone. He is very agile, and has good speed – though he probably could do with getting a bit faster to make the jump to the next level given his size. He has a high hockey IQ that is palpable every time he hits the ice, and he sees gaps in defenses that most players don’t. In terms of shot he has a nice release that he gets off quickly. His soft hands also mean that he can make opposition players look silly at times. But he is not just offence only. Nybeck is a very good penalty killer who is also attentive to his own zone at 5v5.

Comparable

Mats Zuccarello, Right Wing, Minnesota Wild

It may seem slightly clichéd to compare one diminutive Scandinavian winger to another… but in this case the similarities between them mean that it is well deserved. Like his Norwegian counterpart, Nybeck is not just defined by being small, speedy and skilled. He possesses – as the Wild winger does – the heart of a lion, and also has just as much tenacity as he has talent. Both are often first in on a fore-check, don’t mind going to the danger areas, and are very capable in their own zone. These skills also transfer to the penalty-kill, where both can play and be dangerous. Their high hockey IQ’s and vision mean that they can dissect the offensive zone with their play-making ability. Nybeck, however, has a slightly better release than Zuccarello, and a broader frame. The man from Oslo is slightly faster than the young Swede though.

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Photo Credit: Europa Stars Group

Yaroslav Samadov is coming off of his second full season with HC Slovan Bratislava U18. In 46 games with the club, he tallied 20 goals and 27 assists. He averaged 1.02 points per game and that is a solid increase in production when you look at his 2018-2019 statistics.

Samadov does not have any ties to clubs in the MHL, USHL, CHL, Jr. A SM-Liiga nor the SuperElit. But, Samadov and his agent should consider a move to Finland, Sweden, Canada, Russia or the United States. With his draft year coming up, the goal for Samadov should be to grow his reputation and players from Slovakia and the Czech Republic often find themselves relocating temporarily to help advance their hockey career. It does appear that Samadov attended a USHL Combine, so perhaps the Russian forward established some relationships with USHL scouts/front office personnel. If that is the case, we could potentially see Samadov packing his bags for the United States in the fall.

Player Profile

D.O.B – October 16, 2002
Nationality – Russia
Draft Eligibility – 2021
Height – 6’1
Weight – 179 lbs
Position – Center/Left Wing
Handedness – Right

Samadov’s Style Of Play

Samadov is a solid offensive contributor. The Moscow, Russia native has solid range on his shot. Often times, he will look to shoot in the middle of the slot and he will utilize his wrist shot quite a bit. While his shot seems to be strong, Samadov struggles with his passing ability. He can deliver a tape-to-tape pass without error, but if you need a centered pass or a cross ice pass, Samadov will struggle.

Not only will Samadov struggle to complete cross ice and centered passes in the offensive zone, but the 17 year old struggles with passing on the rush. His decision making needs some improvement. More than often, Samadov will throw the puck into dangerous areas and cause turnovers especially in the neutral zone. Instead, he needs to take his time with the puck and identify the optimal teammate to deliver the puck to.

When Samadov is on the power play, he tends to line up along the right half-wall. Depending on his right defenseman’s positioning, he will drop back to the blue line to provide some support from the point. But, when Samadov is along the half-wall, he tends to find more offensive success. He finds a decent amount of open space and creates plenty of opportunities for his teammates to deliver a cross ice pass to him without potentially causing a turnover.

If Samadov is in transition with the puck, he is efficient at navigating the puck up the ice, but there are puck control issues. Samadov has difficulty out-working his opponents. There are situations in which the pressure is tighter and it is inevitable that he will struggle to out-work his opponent, but then there are sequences when there is not a ton of pressure and Samadov looses sight of the puck. In addition, it is evident that Samadov is working on his stick-handling and while he likely will not be a flashy stick-handler, he is working on moving the puck from backhand to forehand. With the right coach at the next level, Samadov will be able to improve his puck control and stick-handling.

From an aggression point of view, he seems to be slightly inconsistent. When he is in the neutral zone, he will look to put pressure on his opponents along the boards and attempt bodychecks. Yet, in the offensive zone and defensive zone, Samadov does not apply much pressure and tends to be more laid back. In order for Samadov to garner a lot of attention from NHL scouts, I believe that he needs to work on his fore-checking and back-checking.

Samadov’s skating is a strong attribute for him. He has a wide stride and can pick up speed at a drop of a hat. He seems to have a heavy foot from time to time on his crossovers, but that is certainly addressable.

Comparable

Jiří Tlustý, Left Wing, Former NHLer, Played for Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets

stats from eliteprospects.com

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Photo Credit: Erica Perreaux / Lethbridge Hurricanes

The feisty Slovakian winger is going into his third NHL draft this year. For the third year in a row he is a player who is likely on several teams draft boards, but still might be passed over. It is hard to see how there have been 434 players taken over that time and Okuliar not be amongst them. He was very good in U-18 WJC in his draft year, always had great production in Slovakian juniors, and played pro hockey at the end of his draft year. 2018-19 however was a bit disappointing from Okuliar. Coming to Sherbrooke in the QMJHL he struggled with consistency, and did not get to the danger areas as well as he had in Slovakia. His point totals, however, were also suppressed by some bad luck, shooting at 9%.

This year he moved to the WHL and has had a great season, and also shone at the World Juniors. At the premier u-20 hockey competition on earth he put up two goals and five points, and was one of the few Slovakian players who really stood out. He benefited in Lethbridge this season from having a fantastic linemate in Dylan Cozens. However, Okuliar complemented him well, and no-one else on the team seemed to understand where to be on ice, and how to create space for Cozens, as well as Okuliar.

Player Profile

D.O.B – May 24, 2000
Nationality – Slovakia
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’1
Weight – 192 lbs
Position – Left Wing
Handedness – Left

Okuliar’s Style Of Play

In terms of his game, Okuliar is a plus skater who loves to get engaged physically. He forechecks relentlessly and never gives up on a play. This should make him a coaches dream, but he can take stupid penalties and lose his discipline at times. This however has been more noticeable at the international level than in the Canadian juniors. Skills wise he is nothing special. He has a decent shot, and is great at tipping pucks from point shots. However, his hands are unexceptional, and he is not to be relied on to thread passes into high danger areas. He produces due to a good IQ and an understanding of defensive coverages, alongside his physical tools, and good, old-fashioned, hard-work. In the defensive zone he knows where to be, and is strong enough there that he has played center at times. Furthermore, Okuliar can penalty-kill, and uses his speed and tenacity well in this phase of the game.

In terms of upside Okuliar – with good development from here on out – is a good bottom six winger. In the later rounds he could be a good pick who might not be that far off being a solid pro. He could probably handle a third line AHL role right away, with the skill-set to be a capable depth NHLer in the next two years.

Comparable

Michael Raffl, Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers

Okuliar is a player who projects to play a similar role to Raffl if he hits. Good skating and a responsible two-way game echo the Austrian winger’s style as well. Neither are overly skilled, but have good hockey minds. Both are also strong forecheckers who are good on the boards and don’t mind going to the danger areas. Okuliar plays a chippier game than Raffl however.

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