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.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

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

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

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.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Photo Credit – EHC Red Bull München

Player Profile

D.O.B – January 14, 2002
Nationality – Germany
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’11
Weight – 192 lbs
Position – Right Wing
Handedness – Left

Peterka’s Style Of Play

Peterka is a fast, skilled winger. While physically well-developed already for his age, he is still quite raw, and some may regard him as a slight “project”. The German winger has the kind of skill-set that makes you think if things go well developmentally he could be a star. He models his game on Patrick Kane, and it is easy to see that in his play. He relishes using his hands and speed to beat defensemen, and when his confidence is up he can make grown men with years of pro experience stand-off him and lose their gap due to the fear of being walked. Peterka is not just a perimeter player though, and likes getting to the danger areas, when he can use his plus shot well to create chances. One thing that marks out his shot versus a lot of players his age is the ability to utilise his wrister effectively while in full stride. His soft hands also mean he can feather some beautiful passes into danger areas, but so far in his career he has seemed better suited to being a “complimentary” player. His consistency needs to improve, but the work ethic is there and he forechecks hard. He misreads plays in the defensive zone at times, which can get him into trouble.

His raw production in the DEL this year might not look anything special, but it is worth noting that he ranks sixth all-time in DEL scoring for U-18 (Tim Stützle and Lukas Reichel are ahead… alongside ex-NHLers Marcel Goc, Marco Sturm and Jochen Hecht).

Comparable

Timo Meier, Right Wing, San Jose Sharks

Peterka has not quite learnt how to use his strength in the way that Meier does, and has not got as wide of a frame as his Swiss counterpart does to do so. Furthermore, Meier is more consistent and a better two-way player. However, when you look back to the player Meier was at the same age there are a lot of similarities, especially offensively. Both are great skaters who shield the puck well, and can beat defensemen clean on the outside before making a beeline for the net. Like the Sharks forward, Peterka is an extremely confident player with plus hands who does not shy away from going to the net and grinding in the danger areas. The two German speakers are also both electric on the rush with quick releases.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Photo Credit: Kateřina Macečková

Coming into this season, Jan Bednář was in contention to be considered the second best goalie in the draft. He dazzled in 2018-19 as a 16 year old, putting up .916 sv% in 15 Czech Extraliga games. However, this year some real warts have been revealed, and as a result he has struggled at the same level.

Player Profile

D.O.B – August 26, 2002
Nationality – Czech Republic
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’4
Weight – 187 lbs
Position – Goaltender
Catches – Left

Bednář’s Style Of Play

Bednář is a modern butterfly hybrid style goaltender. He is really mobile, has a great frame that he can use well, and has the talent that makes you sometimes think that for him the NHL is a matter of when, not if. He is calm, poised and, in general, has good positioning. Additionally, he possesses a good glove and can make insane reaction saves. However, he has real issues with consistency, and seems to switch off at times and get a step behind the play as a result. This is especially apparent if the play is quick developing, and he can get himself into binds where the only way a save can be made is a feat of athletic brilliance. In turn, not only does this make you question his hockey IQ and ability to dissect a play, but also whether these issues with quick developing plays could hinder his adaptation to smaller ice in future. On North American ice one of the major differences is such “bang-bang” plays are more common. Bednář is a good skater and not only does he use his edge-work well when in the crease, but also to handle the puck with aplomb and send play up ice. Overall there is no doubt that the young Czech net-minder has the “talent” to be an NHL goalie, but needs to clean up aspects of his game going forward. If he falls to the mid-rounds he could prove a high reward project for the team that picks him.

Comparable

Steve Mason, Goaltender, Former NHLer, Played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and Winnipeg Jets

While Mason was a rare right handed glove goalie, him and Bednář share a number of traits. Both are big, agile goalies who use their size well and are poised in goal. Like Mason, Bednář is very good at staying square to the shooter and use their high-end edge-work to do so. Bednář also handles the puck well, as his Canadian counterpart did. Their issues are also similar, as the young Czech goalie struggles with consistency, and when off his game can lose the play and give up poor rebounds.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Stats from eliteprospects.com

Photo Credit: HIFK / Riku Laukkanen

Anton Lundell is coming off of a strong 2019-2020 campaign with HIFK. In 44 games played, Lundell tallied 10 goals and 18 assists. The Espoo, Finland native was able to improve upon his 2018-2019 campaign, in which he tallied 19 points in 38 games.

Unfortunately, Lundell missed six weeks of play this season with an elbow injury. Not only did he miss six weeks of game play with HIFK, but he also was not able to play at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. But, his injury failed to slow him down. As you can see in the below tweet from Lassi Alanen of Elite Prospects Rinkside, Lundell was able to put together an impressive display when he returned from injury and tallied six points in his first five games back.

Anton Lundell with his second assist of the game. He’s now up to 18 points in 25 games this season. Six points in five games in after coming back from the injury. #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/NpZdFLL2sL

— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) January 22, 2020

Player Profile

D.O.B – October 3, 2001
Nationality – Finland
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’1
Weight – 187 lbs
Position – Center
Handedness – Left

Lundell’s Style Of Play

When you watch Lundell play, you quickly see that the 18 year old does not play like he is 18. Instead, Lundell plays like a 30 year old veteran. Instead of focusing on himself and using his ice time to solely put on a jaw-dropping display, the Finnish forward is a team-player first. In the defensive zone, you will see Lundell become HIFK’s third defenseman. His positioning is very much defenseman-like and he strives to showcase his defensive-minded attributes whenever he gets a chance.

When HIFK uses a diamond defensive strategy and his teammates have applied pressure against the attack, Lundell will opt to sit in the trapezoid behind his own net to eliminate space for his attackers to potentially move the puck along the boards to the right side of the ice. It’s plays like these that show just how impressive Lundell is in the defensive zone. While he might not opt to deliver booming body-checks like Jake Sanderson or Kaiden Guhle, he is constantly trying to find spots in the defensive zone to plant himself in order to shatter the attack.

In terms of his skating, he has a wide stride, in which his feet are consistently planted wide apart. In addition, his crosses are always in fine form. Whenever he ends up using his crosses, he quickly reminds you of when speed skaters at the olympic level are completing crosses to help accelerate and make quick tight turns. When Lundell is completing crossovers, his knees are always bent and this allows him to have better balance on his crosses instead of if he was standing tall.

In the offensive zone, Lundell is constantly on the move. His comfort zone is right at the crease, but he does not sit back and wait for the puck to come him. Lundell is always helping drive the puck around the zone and when he does not have the puck, he is searching for defensive gaps. When he finds a defensive gap, he quickly moves over to that spot and he suddenly has plenty of open ice.

On the powerplay, Lundell will consistently look to plant himself on the opposite side of the attack. This means that if the attack is penetrating on the right side, you will find Lundell on the left side. This allows Lundell to move to the slot, where there is not much pressure. In the slot, he will then call for the puck and deliver a quick shot.

When it comes to forechecking, Lundell plays more of an insurance role (similar to Aatu Räty). He will not be the one creating a lot of pressure on his opponents in the offensive zone, instead he will be to back up his teammates and be at the ready to collect a pass off of a successful forecheck. His style of play in the offensive zone is the “safe approach”. Lundell is not a Lucas Raymond, but he is a forward that understands that someone has to be ready to keep the cycle alive once his teammates strip the puck.

As I touched on earlier, Lundell has a quick release shot. You can expect Lundell to lean more on his wrist or snap shot. Often times, he will take shots in the slot. He prefers to be in the mid-slot or at the faceoff circle hash-marks. His accuracy in the slot is strong and he does a great job of picking corners in the slot.

Last but not least, let’s talk about his passing. Passing is the one area of Lundell’s game, in which he can struggle at times. If you are looking for Lundell to deliver tape-to-tape passing, that is not an issue for him. But, when Lundell looks to feed cross ice passing or centered passing on the rush, he will sometimes struggle with his accuracy. Yet, that should not be a reason why you do not take Lundell on draft night.

Comparable

Patrice Bergeron, Center, Boston Bruins

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Photo Credit – Aaron Bell/CHL, Photo Taken By – Terry Wilson/OHL Images

Gogolev should have been drafted when he was first eligible in 2018. You had to feel for the Russian winger in Dallas two years ago. He was one of those unfortunate players who make the trip to the draft with no doubt that he would be toting an NHL jersey come Saturday evening, yet was left sat in those cold, hard, plastic seats when the last name was called. His 30-goal season for Peterborough Petes should have been enough to be taken, even with the holes in his game at the time. The bad luck piled on in 2018-19 as well, as after a trade to Guelph Storm he was really heating up before a fractured ankle in January made him miss over two months of play. He returned in the playoffs, but did not look himself and played a depth role on a deep forward group that captured the OHL championship.

People often talk about the “Russian” factor, but Gogolev has spent the last seven years of his life in North America, and now speaks seamless English with a Canadian twang to it. He is also from a hockey family. His father Dmitri had a 19-year professional career that included four games for the Russian national team, and his big brother Alexander played two years in the WHL, represented Russia at u-17 level, and played in the KHL and VHL.

Player Profile

D.O.B – February 19, 2000
Nationality – Russia
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’1
Weight – 179 lbs
Position – Left Wing
Handedness – Left

Gogolev’s Style Of Play

Gogolev is one of those forwards who the fans will never have to scream at to shoot… the puck will already be off his stick before they have a chance. He has a fantastic shot, and can pick corners at will with a terrific release that is hard to read. The Moscow native’s shot is made even deadlier due to his ability to shoot accurately while in stride. But it is not just a great wrist-shot that marks Gogolev out as a plus scorer. Depending on the situation he can go into his bag of tricks and pull out snap, slap and backhands at will. On the power-play he is crafty off the right half-boards, and causes panic amongst defensemen from that spot who in turn either over-play him and leave others open, or back up too much leaving him to take a stride forward and unleash a howitzer. While his shot is his hallmark, Gogolev also has nice hands, that while no means “amazing” help him get the puck in good positions, and allow him to protect the puck very well when skating or cycling. The young Russian also has a high level of confidence when on the puck, and is rarely phased by pressure.

His skating was a question during his age 17-18 season, but since then he has improved there, to the degree that he is above average, and can blow by guys in neutral zone once in stride. Gogolev’s play-making lags behind his high-end scoring, but technically speaking he is a decent passer, his biggest flaw is that he does not see opportunities for dangerous passes and is prone to shooting when he should pass. His work in the defensive zone has come on leaps and bounds over the last two years. He is never likely to be a defensive stalwart, but at this venture he can be trusted in his own zone and is “decent” in terms of his two-way game. It was not always that way, but over the last year seems to have really applied himself there. He can be a weapon on the penalty kill at the junior level as well, and it will be interesting to see if he can take that aspect of his game to the professional level. He has been to Detroit and Las Vegas training camps in the last two years, and given that two of his biggest “flaws” historically have been “fixed” to a degree, in terms of skating and defense, it is hard to see him not being drafted this year.

The kind of player that in the mid-rounds could be a steal. He will be able to play in the AHL next year, and if given a play-making center could shine at that level. There are likely questions over whether he has the type of game to play lower than a second line at the highest level, but personally I could see him being a complimentary third line winger who could maybe even be a second line third wheel if he keeps developing.

Comparable

Tanner Pearson, Left Wing, Vancouver Canucks

Gogolev does not have the level of skating that Pearson has, but like the Canadian winger he plays at high speed with the puck on his stick, and is confident in possession. Both are shoot first players with a nice arsenal of shots who can pick a corner from the circles. Both also have some real skill even if don’t have high end hands. Neither are defensive stalwarts, even if they compete well in their own zone, and both can be utilized on the penalty kill. Gogolev also does not mind going to the net and mixing it up physically, even if, like Pearson, he has a tendency to shoot the puck from the circles.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Photo from Aaron Bell/CHL, Terry Wilson/OHL Images

A lot can change in three years.

In 2017-18, Cuylle was highly regarded as a powerhouse forward in the GTHL. Every time he hit the ice with the Toronto Marlboros, Cuylle was an immediate scoring threat, leading the OHL Cup with 12 points to beat out the likes of Cole Perfetti, Jamie Drysdale and Quinton Byfield. Peterborough selected Cuylle third overall despite heavy rumors that he wouldn’t commit to the franchise, and that was the case. The Petes shipped him out to Windsor for a whopping nine draft picks to help set them Peterborough up for the future, while Cuylle was set to lead the Spitfires back to glory.

That never happened. Cuylle’s career started well with 26 goals and 41 points as a rookie, , good to earn him a spot on the OHL’s second all-rookie team. Cuylle then had an impactful performance at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last August, further adding to the belief that Cuylle’s sophomore effort was going to be a smash hit and push him into first-round consideration. Instead, Cuylle couldn’t regain his scoring magic in Windsor, didn’t see much improvement in the scoring department, falling to 22 goals but improving to 42 points in 62 games, with a full-season projection placing him around 45-46. His 0.42 primary points-per-60 at even strength was 20th among draft-eligible OHL prospects with at least 30 games played, per Pick22 – not spectacular from a prospect once seen as one of the most gifted prospects from the 2002-birth year.

Player Profile

D.O.B – February 5, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –6’2
Weight –201 lbs
Position – Left Wing
Handedness – Left

Cuylle’s Style Of Play

The team that selects Cuylle is getting a tough power-forward that likes to shoot and isn’t afraid to get frisky to help his team out. There are still a lot of raw aspects to his game and his lack of overall improvement in his second OHL season left a lot to be desired, but if he can tap in and round out the deficiencies in his game while working on his game-to-game consistency, Cuylle could be a steal in the third round as long as the team is willing to be patient and give him every opportunity to succeed. Let’s take a deeper look at the on-ice stylings of Cuylle’s game:

Cuylle’ Style Of Play

So why were scouts so enamored in Cuylle’s game from an early age? It all traces back to his lethal shot, one that already had a major junior-caliber trait before he ever skated in the OHL. This far along in his development, the term “NHL shot” is now being used to describe his game, but what does that mean? In Cuylle’s case, it’s how he exemplifies power and accuracy while playing at a high speed. The term “effortless” is often overused to describe a strong shooter, but he doesn’t need much time or space with a release to achieve a desirable result. Cuylle’s sweet spot has been in the mid-slot, though, likely due to the extra distance to the net that allows for his wrist shot to truly flourish and hit max velocity.

 

In my opinion, to have an “NHL-quality shot”, you need to be able to A) be proficient with different shot types (wrist, slap, snap, etc.), B) be quick, deceptive and powerful. That’s how I’d describe Cuylle’s ability to shoot pucks, and that’s one of the reasons why scouts love to see him have the puck.

Of his 200 shots this season, Cuylle’s 167 even-strength attacks was good for third among draft-year OHL players behind noted goal-scorers James Hardie and Cole Perfetti, but his 8.98 shooting percentage placed him in 54th among skaters with at least 30 games played. His overall shooting percentage of 11 percent was good for 44th, so while his shot is considered a strength of his, converting on it hasn’t been a successful aspect of his game, and a big reason why scouts have been disappointed about his overall development after falling from 26 goals as a rookie to 22 as a sophomore. That would be one thing if the Spitfires struggled this season, but in six fewer games than last year, Windsor had nine more victories and 40 more goals, so you can see why the dip in goals is concerning to many, especially with a stout playmaker in Jean-Luc Foudy down the middle.

A big rising aspect of Cuylle’s game is his willingness to play a physical game, and given that his offensive consistency has been an issue, that’s a positive for a player who might fit better in a bottom-sox role. He’s always been considered a power forward and has a good frame at 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds, but he truly found a way to refine his physicality in the past year. When he hits, he hits to make an impact, and does a splendid job giving his team momentum with a crushing blow to an opponent. Cuylle is no stranger to dropping the gloves, but his fight against Donovan Sebrango – someone he tangled with in the past – at the CHL Top Prospects Game showed how quick he can be when landing punches.

Will Cuylle is a great power forward prospect. Look at these three hits.

🎥 – @Sportsnet#2020NHLDraft | @FCHockey pic.twitter.com/SfIssiGX42

— Josh Tessler (@JoshTessler_) January 24, 2020

Cuylle is a competent skater that uses his strong legs to hit his top speed quickly, which is important for a bigger prospect. His top speed isn’t anything worth getting excited about, but in quick spurts, Cuylle can handle his own. In fact, his overall skating build is miles ahead of what it was even a year ago, but that’s because it was a hinderance at the time. The positive, though, is that he showed enough improvement this year to the point where, by the time he has a shot at the pro game, it could end up being a strength of his.

If you’re looking for someone to drive the action – and not ever prospect is capable of that – Cuylle is not your guy. It was often that you’d find Cuylle playing a more passive game compared to Foudy on the ice, waiting around for a pass instead of trying to make further opportunities for himself. When he’s on his game, Cuylle does a good job of putting himself into a scoring position and drawing defenders out of position, but you’d like to see a more constant effort to build consisttency. Since he’s not the most active puck mover on the ice, he’s seen more as a complentary forward and won’t be someone that’s going to change a game for you. Again, that’s fine – you don’t typically have three players on a line that are all considered to be line-drivers, but there are too many nights where you forget he ever hit the ice. That was especially apparent when he had just one goal in the first 13 games and highlighted further by his seven-game pointless drought in February – he needs to ensure that he’s willing to win every puck battle all the time.

Defensively, Cuylle holds his own quite well. Since he likes to get physical, he can win the battles along the boards to get the puck out of his zone and is one of the more effective stick-lifters I’ve followed this season. Since he’s got good strength to play with, he doesn’t allow his opponents to spend too much time with the puck because Cuylle will find a way to retrieve it. Again, game-to-game consistency is still a need for improvement, but it’s not a downside of his overall game.

Comparable

Tom Wilson, RW, Washington Capitals

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Photo Credit: Aaron Bell/CHL, Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Player Profile

D.O.B – February 21, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’11
Weight – 165 lbs
Position – Right Wing
Handedness – Right

Evangelista’s Style Of Play

Evangelista is an agile winger who is extremely tenacious. In that regard he has some of the same qualities as his second cousin, Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan. He constantly frustrated opposition defensemen with his forechecking, and his ability to make opponents have to rush passes due to his pressure means that he forces mistakes regularly. He is also a diligent back-checker who has an intuitive understanding of lanes, and therefore uses his stick very well to channel opposition forwards towards low danger areas. Offensively speaking he has good hands and a very good release, but at times you are left urging him to utilize his shot more and not pass up on prime opportunities to try and get an even better look for himself or his line-mates. This is understandable to a degree though, as he is a high-end passer who sees the ice extremely well and is generally a step ahead of the play.

Evangelista has no real gaping holes in his game. Going forward simply needs to get stronger, as he often gets beat in board battles where positionally he should be favored, though you cannot even begin to doubt his application here. He is very willing to go into physical battles against bigger players. While he is an agile skater, with okay top speed who can beat defensemen clean, his stride could do with some improvement, as it is a bit choppy at times right now, and as a result he loses some power and does not make as good use of his agility as he could. On a stacked London team he did have the opportunity to spend half the year with very high level line-mates in Liam Foudy and Connor McMichael… but was also good without them when playing with Antonio Stranges, Jason Willms and Nathan Dunkley.

Some may point to his lack of “track record”, as he only really sprang into NHL draft watchers consciousness this year. However, he was a top scorer at AAA level, and was buried on the stacked Knights team last year after being picked 1^st round (14th overall) in the OHL priority draft. This suppressed his production, as in 2018-19 he played very rarely, and as a result got only 2 points in 27 games. This year he was almost at point-per-game level, despite generally playing a middle six role, with hardly any power-play time. In fact, only 2 of his 61 points came in man-up situations. Factoring in how good a passer he is and how he looked in his time on the power-play half-boards, it is easy to imagine him being utilized on the power-play in the NHL in future, even if “only” on a second pairing. Evangelista is also a good penalty-killer who is good at forcing turnovers when used aggressively in such situations.

If he can simply develop his game, get stronger, and improve his skating stride I can imagine him being fan favorite top six winger in the NHL down the line.

Comparable

Jaden Schwartz, Left Wing, St. Louis Blues

Both Evangelista and Schwartz are great playmakers from the wing, who while not blessed with either size or high-end physical tools have good hockey IQ’s, grit and determination. Like Schwartz, Evangelista is also a good two-way winger with good puck control. The main difference is shot volume. Schwartz, who is a great playmaker, shoots more than Evangelista.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Photo Credit: Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants

Player Profile

D.O.B – March 24, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 5’11
Weight – 165 lbs
Position – Right Wing
Handedness – Right

Sourdif’s Style Of Play

Justin Sourdif is an aggressive, gritty player in all three zones who can really fly. He relishes physical battles despite not having the largest frame, and is surprisingly strong on the puck for his size. His board-play is not without its flaws, though most of his issues there are caused by a physical disadvantage against most defensemen, but despite this he loves getting involved on the boards and around the net, and near the crease he is a dangerous player with a tendency to find space in tight. He is also a player who utilizes the “Forsberg” reverse hit well when the opportunity arises. Sourdif lives in the high danger areas, and it is a surprise to see him anywhere apart from the slot of the crease when the play is set up. His understanding of seams in defenses is impressive, and as with players such as Danny Briere, Brad Marchand and Brendan Gallagher he possesses the ability to appear out of nowhere to slam home lose pucks with defensemen nowhere in sight.

Sourdif also has a nice shot. His snapshot especially is impressive, and he can rip a wrister too. He does, however, flub on shots at a high rate for someone with a good release, and right now a higher percentage of prime chances than you would like to see he flutters towards net with the puck wobbling in air and at reduced velocity. There needs to be better consistency in that area, as he has the potential to be a dangerous goal-scorer. He is very good at effective zone entries, and getting through the neutral zone quickly and seamlessly. Once he gets into the offensive zone he also understands how to slow the play down while keeping options available, in order to either set up a cycle or find a trailer who has beaten their man. Sourdif can also penalty kill, and is a reliable defensive player who is trusted by his coaches to kill off games versus top lines. His hockey IQ does not “pop” like some players, but he rarely makes major mistakes and is good in all three zones, so there is no doubt he thinks the game well. His IQ presents itself best by his ability to get free in dangerous positions.  He also has soft hands that he can use at very high speed, and is a decent passer, even if not amazing in that area. Right now, he plays in a net-front role on the power play, but likely won’t be there at next level.

Sourdif needs to get bigger and stronger to win more physical battles, areas that are key to his style of play, and also has to improve his consistency game-to-game and shift-to-shift. However, given his skating, two-way game, and sound technical skills if he simply keeps developing it is hard to imagine he does not find a role in an NHL bottom six down the line. If he really hits he could be a second line forward who opposition defensemen hate and fans love.

Comparable

Bryan Rust, Right Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins

Both forwards are well-rounded, 200ft players who utilize their plus speed to great effect. Like Rust, Sourdif might not have size on his side, but that does not stop him going hard to the danger areas or battling along the boards. Sourdif and Rust also have good hockey IQ’s and nice releases.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.