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Rank your prospects!

fergy57

fergy57

Well-known member
It's really a dull time in this league right now. Draft stuff is over, teams look fairly set, not a lot of movement.

Seems like a good time to bring this thing back again this year.

I'm not really following any specific parameters on what qualifies as a prospect for me, other than they are eligible in fantrax and that I do not expect them to be on my main roster this year (so guys like Hughes, Gusev and Makar etc. are off the list). Also not stopping at any specific number, though I think my pool is fairly deep still, so I'll probably cover a bunch.

Legit prospects:

1. Kirill Kaprizov- Hopefully we see him next year. The only real hesitation I have with him is how much of a tire fire Minnesota is. Otherwise, I fully expect him to come over and be a big producer right away.

2. Adam Boqvist- Again, I think Boqvist is a year away from the NHL. Expecting big things from him. He was pretty dynamic offensively in the O last year, having one of the highest goals per game average of any under 19 player in the last decade. Not bad for his first year playing in NA.

3. Aleksi Heponiemi- I think Hepo is 2 years away from the NHL, but I'm fairly excited about what he will turn into. He has seemed to perform well at every level he's played at, including putting up near a ppg in Liiga as a 19 year old last year.

4. Philip Broberg- Still surprised I got this guy at 19 in the draft this year. I think maybe 8 was a little high for him in the real draft, but his skating is just so good. If the rest of his game develops well, he could really turn into something. Him going back to Sweden this year is great as well. Really like the fact he isn't being rushed. A full year of competition against men in a bigger role should do wonders for him.

5. Ian Mitchell- Mitchell has really grown on me as a prospect and I think he is an important piece for Chicago's blueline in the future. He has a really good head on his shoulders (wanted to go back to college this year to 'dominate' every game at that level before moving up). Hoping he does just that, gets more hype and I can trade him to Jonas when he goes into rebuild mode for some good pieces. Just being honest.

6. Ty Dellandrea- Maybe a bit biased here, but I do have high hopes for what Dellandrea will become. His OHL numbers aren't that eye popping, but he did play on an absolutely terrible team. I'm hoping he can become a Kesler-lite to a Kesler-esque player, but I think he is probably realistically 5 years away from having that kind of impact.

7. Dominik Bokk- The numbers aren't very eye popping on him, but watching clips, he has some pretty great talent. If it comes together, he could be a decent scoring winger in the NHL down the road.

8. Nick Robertson- Really hoping for a really strong D+1 season from him numbers wise. Would help justify why I have him as my 8th best prospect. His work so far in the rookie tournament has me happy with the pick.

9. Timothy Liljegren- This literally should have been Miro Heiskanen. It was a coin toss between the 2 when I drafted Liljegren at 5. Thought Liljegren had the higher offensive upside at the time. Oops. While I still think some of that upside is there, I don't think Liljegren becomes near what Heiskanen will. Still hopeful he turns into a decent player, though.

10. Teemu Kivihalme- Hoping for a diamond in the rough type pickup here. He was the one of the best defensemen in Liiga last year and plays a pretty complete game while being a good skater. If he can bring that over to the NHL, he could produce.\

11. Jake Oettinger- A few years away, but he has everything you'd want in a good goalie prospect. Hoping he can be a starter for me down the road when I'm contending.

12. Oskari Laaksonen- Similar to Kivihalme, I am interested to see if he can bring his game over to North America soon and become a decent NHLer.

13. David Farrance- Will be taking over for Dante Fabbro as 'the man' at Boston University. Decent numbers last year, which hopefully take a nice bump with more ice time and responsibility.

14. Tye Felhaber- An undrafted player that had 76 goals in 86 games (regular and playoffs), in the OHL last year. Yes, he was an overager, but I am hopeful that some of that offense translates to the pro game (most likely AHL this year). I randomly saw a video of him working out with Giroux on facebook, and the kid is putting in some work in the weight room.

15. Alex Beaucage- Put up good numbers as a 17 year old. Everything I've read seems to point to high end IQ and skill, with skating being his real area of weakness. Skating seems to be something that can be corrected if players put the proper work into it, but I'm hopeful. More of a project at this point.

Shiny New Toys:

16. Alex Vlasic- Very big player, with some sneaky offensive skill. Was put in more of a shut down role on a stacked US development team, so I'm hoping in going to a situation where he can play more minutes and have more responsibility, he will put up bigger numbers. Another Blackhawks defender to dangle to Jonas when the time is right.

17. Mattias Norliner- A habs prospect. Hoping he gets some hype and i can trade him to HP/Habsy.
18. Dillon Hamaliuk
19. Levi Aaltonen
20. Aaron Huglen
21. Andrew Shortridge

Stubbornly holding in hopes they become something:

22. Chad Krys
23. Yegor Korshkov
24. Haydn Fleury
25. Zach Senyshyn
 
Love these threads. Your list looks about right to me Fergy.

As for my guys... Even though

Elite:

1. Miro Heiskanen: I was tempted to put him in the graduated class, but since he just turned 20 and is still minors eligible, I'm comfortable calling him a "prospect." Dude has legit stud potential. Great skater with excellent offensive upside. Playing 23+ minutes a night at 19 years old last season is absurd.

2. Alex Turcotte: Not sure if he's quite an "elite" prospect... but if he's not, he's damn close. By all accounts he's a guy that does everything really well... and is an exceptional playmaker and skater. He can score goals too. He's a very safe bet to be "good" and has a real shot at being "very good."

3. Cole Caufield: Like Turcotte, I have him right on the cusp of "elite." I'm giving them both the benefit of the doubt because they're new toys. Caufield is the best goal scoring prospect since Laine and there's an argument that he's the best in the past 15 years. That said, at 5'7 there's a real possibility that it won't translate to the NHL. Until he stops scoring goals... I'mma expect him to keep scoring though.

Almost Elite:

4. Evan Bouchard: He is kind of in that same group as the previous 2 guys. I guess the reason I bumped him down a notch is that he "struggled" for a good portion of last season. His 53p in 45gp in the regular was outstanding, however they were a step below his 87p in 67gp pre-draft season. That said, he absolutely killed it in the OHL playoffs with 21p in 11gp. Then went straight into the AHL playoffs and put up 3g 8p in 8gp, and he's still just 19. The kid is an excellent prospect and could finally be that stud dman the Oilers have so desperately needed.

5. Martin Necas: Really... #2 thru #5 are almost interchangable at this point. Necas has speed to burn and really nice offensive skills. 52p in 64gp for a kid that was 19 for the first half of his rookie AHL season. I'll take that. Stepping onto a team where he could be a #1 center with some high end talent on the wings.

Very Good:

6. Barrett Hayton: He may have been a bit of a reach at #5 in the 2018 draft, but he stepped it up in his post draft season. He almost doubled his pre-draft production and his 1.69 ppg were good for 3rd in the OHL last season.

7. Joseph Veleno: Pretty much the opposite of Hayton. Falling to #30 in the 2018 draft was kind of ridiculous... but like Hayton he had a great post-draft season. His 1.72 ppg was 2nd in the QMJHL only to Maxime Comtois who was in his 2nd post-draft season. He really does look like he does everything right by all accounts.

Good:

8. Josh Brook: Okay, maybe I'm a homer... but the kid looks pretty damn good. Top scoring dman in the WHL last season. By no means a lock to be an impact NHLer but his progression has been terrific.

9. Owen Tippett: Was looking like a damn fine prospect a couple years ago, but after a couple of post-draft seasons with no progression I'm not so sold on him anymore. Still has some decent potential, but not likely an upper echelon winger.

10. Victor Olofsson: Well, I started my top 10 with a guy that was too young to graduate from my prospects list and I'm making #10 a guy that's probably too old to still be on it. He just turned 24 in July, but he looked really good putting up 30g 63p in 60gp as an AHL rookie last year and leading the SHL in goal scoring the previous year.

Next Group aka Guys who I don't know what to expect from... but I like things about:

11. Connor McMichael
12. Pyotr Kochetkov
13. Kole Lind
14. Marcus Davidsson
15. Raphaël Lavoie

Honorable Mention and in no particular order...

Adam Ruzicka
Jackson LaCombe
Filip Berglund
Cayden Primeau
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
 
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Traded away most of my top prospects to improve the NHL roster, so I've been bargain hunting for the most part. That being said, I have some stuff that has potential.

Top 7

1. Josh Norris - I feel like Norris will do well in this format. Will probably be a minute eating centre that can score and playmake at a decent level. I expect him to have a cup of coffee this year in the NHL.

2. Scott Perunovich - Best defenseman on the back to back NCAA champs. Beautiful skating and playmaking ability. Is pretty small but I think his hockey sense will allow him to thrive in the NHL when he arrives, most likely next year or at the end of this year.

3. Lucas Elvenes - Had a nice draft +2 season in the SHL. 5th in U20 ppg. Will be in the AHL this year.

4. Alexander Volkov - Didn't make as much progress as I would have hoped in his second AHL season, basically scoring as much as he did the year before, but is still on track to debut this year most likely. All the physical tools and skills to succeed on a loaded Tampa team.

5. Taro Hirose - Undrafted free agent stepped into the Detroit lineup and scored 7 points in 10 games. Was a great scorer for a not so talented MSU team so might be something there. Should make the team pretty easily so worth watching.

6. Jeremy Davies - Main piece traded by NJ in the Subban deal. High scoring defenseman at NEU and should be close to NHL ready. Considering Nashville's reputation with defensemen, I'm intrigued with his potential.

7. Oskar Steen - Had a great age 20 season in the SHL. Apparently an absolutely pain in the ass too. Basically a perfect Boston player. Lotta similarities to Marchand. Will be in NA this year for the Baby Bruins.

Interesting NCAA skaters

I scout the NCAA pretty hard as I believe NCAA prospects are generally unvalued in our league. Here's some under the radar kids I have that I have hopes for:

1. Sammy Walker. Typical Tampa player. Small, fast, and skilled. Had a nice debut for Minnesota last year. Should take a step forward this year with more ice.

2. Mathias Emilio Pettersen. Small skilled player from Norway playing for Denver. Went late in the 2018 draft but has moved up prospect boards with his solid Freshman season.

3. Morgan Barron. Been on this kid for a few years. Was drafted out of a private school and didn't have quite the resume most have going into college, but nearly doubled his PPG in his sophomore season at Cornell. Probably a middle six guy at best, but could be an all situations guy that does well in in our format.

4. Brandon Kruse. Small kid with high end playmaking skills. Nearly PPG last year for Bowling Green. Decent potential, might be a few years off.

New toys

1. Nikita Alexandrov - Looks like a nice overall player, kind of does everything well. One of the oldest players in his draft class, so needs to have a big post draft year to be a legit prospect.

2. Maxim Cajkovic - #1 pick in the import draft in 2018. Unfortunately St John sucks, so it's hard to know if he's any good. Interested in his Draft +1 season to see whether he takes another step.

3. Matias Maccelli - Had a great year in the USHL and is going back to Finland to play in Liiga. Good chance to be on the U20 team.
 
Volcanologist did an amazing job with his prospect pool.
Still looking pretty good after trading Kristian Vesalainen, Evgeny Svechnikov and Serron Noel this offseason.


BLUE CHIPPERS

1. Erik Brannstrom
No need for presentation here, in the same tier as Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes.
Will be part of my active roster by the end of the season.

2. Ilya Samsonov
Elite NHL Starter in the making.
Hopefully this year of development in the AHL will be enough for him to be ready to take over when Brayden Holtby's contract expires.

TOP PROSPECTS (Legit Top 6 / Top 4 Potential)

3. Akil Thomas
More of a long-term project than the following prospects, but also the one with the most potential IMO.
Two-way stud. Fast. Skilled. Very good vision and IQ.
Was seen as more of a playmaker and criticized for not scoring enough.
Worked on this aspect of his game and scored 38 goals last season in the OHL. (102 points in 63 games)
Named captain of the Ice Dogs for the upcoming season.

4. Carl Grundstrom
Potential multi categories beast.
Made his NHL debut at the end of last season - 15 GP : 5 Goals / 1 Assist / 38 Hits

5. Nikolay Prokhorkin
25 years old, fast and skilled 6'3 centre.
Will play in the NHL this year after a 41 points in 41 games season with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL last year.

6. Oliver Kylington
Amazing skater, very mobile offensive defensemen.
Stuck behind very good defensive depth in Calgary.

7. Josh Mahura
Power-play quarterback with top-four potential.

GOOD PROSPECTS

8. Dmitry Sokolov

9. Sean Durzi

10. Lawrence Pilut

11. Jonathan Dahlen
Problem child, what am I to do with you !?

2019 DRAFTEES

12. Karl Henriksson
Round 2, 58th Overall - C (NY Rangers)
Very excited about this pick. Underrated because of his line-mates in SuperElit and Internationally.
Legit steal in the making in my book.

13. Jayden Struble
Round 2, 46th Overall - D (Montreal)

14. Albert Johansson
Round 2, 60th overall – D (Detroit)

15. Jordan Spence
Round 4, 95th Overall – D (Los Angeles)
QMJHL Rookie of the Year and QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

16. Rhett Pitlick
Round 5, 131st Overall - LW (Montreal)
Offensive upside for days.

17. Mikhail Shalagin
Round 7, 198th Overall - LW (Tampa Bay)
Set a record for goals in the MHL with 48. (75 points in 43 games)
Just signed a one year contract with the Syracuse Crunch.

18. Mikhail Abramov
Round 4, 115th Overall - C/RW (Toronto)
Offensive upside for days.
 
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I'll let Corey Pronman rank my prospects. From his top 124.

"Elite NHL Prospect"

6. Cole Caufield, RW, Montreal

Jan. 2, 2001 | 5-foot-7 | 163 pounds

Drafted: 15th-overall (2019)
Previous ranking: N/A

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 65
Physical Game: 20
Hockey sense: 60
Shot Grade: 80

Caufield scored 72 goals this past season. That wasn’t a typo. Caufield’s shot is special. There’s plenty of snipers out there, but Caufield’s wrist shot technique is like a slingshot. He gets control of the puck and fires it a million miles an hour on target. He’s not going to pick a corner every shot, but his finishing rate is very good and he scored some of the most amazing goals I saw all of last season at any level. He’s got a good one-timer/slap shot, but it’s his wrist shot that is special. He’s more than a shot, as in most games Caufield would have four-plus scoring chances. Part of that was due to having Jack Hughes as his linemate, but mostly it was due to Caufield’s skill set. His puck skills are fantastic. Every touch he makes is smooth. He can make the 1-on-1 plays versus defenders, but he has such quick, crisp touches that it allows him to get so many clean shots. His offensive timing is excellent, and he reads how plays develop very well. He’s got great vision with the ability to make plays off the rush or on the power play. He’s not as elite a skater as you’d hope for at 5-foot-7, but he’s got pull away speed and skates very well overall. His size is his main drawback, but Caufield competes well and attacks the net to score goals.

I think Caufield is an elite NHL prospect. It was clear this past draft a lot of the NHL scouting industry did not feel the same as he went 15th overall. Sources cited a myriad of concerns: some felt he lacks elite speed, some felt his vision isn’t that great, some felt he needed a driver like Hughes and some felt he won’t be able to penalty kill in the pros if he doesn’t score. I don’t agree with some of those arguments, and he will become one of the most debated prospects going forward. It’s worth noting I was on a bit of an island in the scouting community by putting him at No. 5 on my 2019 draft board. Even those NHL scouts who loved him were slotting him into the top 10 rather than top 5, and I’m going to take it on the chin if he doesn’t end up becoming the player I think he is capable of becoming.


7. Alex Turcotte, C, Los Angeles

Feb. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds

Drafted: Fifth-overall (2019)
Previous ranking: N/A

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 50
Hockey sense: 60

Turcotte had a tough season, missing time due to injury and contracting mononucleosis late in the season. When healthy, though, he was awesome and a dominant center at the USHL level. He’s a well-rounded prospect without any clear weakness in his game and a lot of high-end elements. He’s a great skater with a clean stride and can barrel down the wing with speed. Turcotte’s speed is good, not overwhelming, but he’s got a fantastic first step and a great overall pace to his game. He combines that pace with very good hands and vision, showing how versatile a threat he can be. He can make creative plays off the flank and sees his options well. It’s not just his speed and skill that stand out, but his compete level is elite. Turcotte is the kind of forward who can dangle around defensemen, blow by them or drive his way through them. He gets to the net consistently and without fear. He battles for pucks as hard as anyone and typically wins them, even at 5-foot-11. He’s not the biggest center, but that is really the only criticism I can find of his game.

Elite/High-End Bubble

10. Martin Necas, C, Carolina

Jan. 15, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds

Drafted: 12th-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: 10

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 60
Physical Game: 45
Hockey sense: 60
Shot Grade: 60

Necas didn’t stick with Carolina and didn’t have an amazing world juniors, but he was a catalyst for Charlotte’s Calder Cup title as a U20 player. Necas’ game is all about speed. He will be the main zone entry guy for a line in the NHL because of how well he skates. He has the high skill level to go along with the speed to make plays through defenders while on the move. He’s also an excellent passer who has the patience to wait out defenses and hit seams consistently. What impressed me this season was Necas’ shot. He scored quite a few goals from a distance with a one-timer I hadn’t seen before. His shot and vision make him a weapon on the power play. He’s not the most physical and his effort isn’t 100 percent consistent, but he has all the tools, he has the production and he’s a right-handed center who has shown for years he can produce versus men. He’s one of the best players outside the NHL.


11. Barrett Hayton, C, Arizona

June 9, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds

Drafted: Fifth-overall (2018)
Previous ranking: 41

Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 65
Physical Game: 50
Hockey sense: 65

Hayton was one of the most dangerous players in junior hockey. He has the ability to be a dominant offensive weapon and a reliable 200-foot player. His skill and overall offensive creativity are outstanding. He has very quick hands and is not afraid to try to make a difficult play. Hayton sees the entire ice and can make high-end passes in tight areas. He can be a top-end playmaker in the NHL, and he has a decent shot on top of it. Hayton showed more speed and pace in his game, cleaning up his stride and attacking more with speed. I don’t think his quickness is a selling point, though. He has the potential to be a top-line center in the NHL and could play in the league next season.

High-End NHL Prospect


26. Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton

Oct. 20, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 194 pounds

Drafted: 10th-overall (2018)
Previous ranking: 45

Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 55
Hockey sense: 60
Shot Grade: 60

Bouchard had a great season, named the top defenseman in the OHL and productive in the AHL after being brought in for Bakersfield’s playoff run. He’s a great offensive weapon. Bouchard has high-end vision and a high-end shot, making him such a great asset on the power play. He has size and defends fine, but the value of his game isn’t in the defensive end. He is able to skate at a pro-average level, but I wouldn’t call skating a strength. His strengths are his patience, his vision, his shot and his skill. With those strengths and without glaring issues, he’s going to be a very good NHL player.

31. Owen Tippett, RW, Florida

Feb. 16, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 216 pounds

Drafted: 10th-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: 30

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 65
Physical Game: 40
Hockey sense: 65
Shot Grade: 60

You could argue there was no more talented player in the CHL in 2018-19 than Tippett. He can dazzle like few others. He’s got elite skill, elite offensive instincts and a bullet shot. Inside the offensive zone he can make defenders look foolish with his ability to deke one way, and either make a flashy behind the back pass off a move or fire a wrist shot top corner. He skates well and can push the pace when he wants to. The issue with Tippett is consistency. He is frustratingly inconsistent. A player with his talent level should have destroyed the OHL, but I went to several games where he was just ordinary. He doesn’t attack the net and he takes stretches of time off, but boy when he’s on is he fun to watch. I believe in him a lot because of his skill level.
 
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Very Good NHL Prospect


57. Klim Kostin, LW, St. Louis

May 5, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 212 pounds

Drafted: 31st-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: 40

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 65
Hockey sense: 55

Kostin is a tough player to evaluate. He’s been just fine in the AHL as a teenager – a useful player for San Antonio but not a top one. However, internationally he’s looked fantastic. I’ve been a big believer in the player for years and still believe in his toolkit. Everything about his skill set points to the NHL. He’s a 6-foot-3 forward with above-average speed and puck skills. He can play a soft skill game or a hard, physical one in front of the net. You would like to see him show up more consistently at the AHL level, and it’s a concern, but I’m betting on him figuring things out.


66. Joe Veleno, C, Detroit

Jan. 13, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds

Drafted: 30th-overall (2018)
Previous ranking: 43

Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 50
Hockey sense: 55

Veleno was one of the best players in the QMJHL in his fourth season in the league and made Canada’s World Junior team in a lower role. He’s a well-rounded center and his skating is his best asset. Veleno will be able to consistently gain the zone versus pros with his speed. He works hard and has some defensive value. He is a skilled forward who sees the ice well, and put to rest some concerns about his finishing issues, scoring 42 in 59 games. With Veleno the main concern is whether the skill level and overall playmaking is dynamic enough to become a top-six forward. He did score a lot this past season, but some scouts claim that is just because he was a fourth year player in the Q. I like the player and think that, while he’s not overly flashy, he’s skilled enough that he’ll find ways to score. With that said, I did see many games where, despite scoring, he didn’t truly pop.


79. Josh Brook, D, Montreal

June 17, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds

Drafted: 56th-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: Not ranked

Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 55
Hockey sense: 60

Brook was a top defenseman in the WHL, having his first big season in junior scoring well over a point per game. Brook brings a lot of elements to the table. He’s a 6-foot-1 defenseman who skates well and can transport pucks up ice. He’s also a very smart defenseman who can stretch the ice. His play off the blue line is high-end with how he waits out defenders, finds shooting and passing lanes. He’s not an elite defender, but he defends more than fine due to his reach, feet and brain. I like this player a lot. I can see Brook being deployed in various situations as a pro and excelling.


86. Raphael Lavoie, RW, Edmonton

Sept. 25, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds

Drafted: 38th-overall (2019)
Previous ranking: N/A

Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 60
Hockey sense: 55
Shot Grade: 60

Lavoie is a talented player who had a good season but didn’t play as well as expected before tearing it up in the QMJHL playoffs. He’s 6-foot-4, skates well for a big man and has a high skill level. There are times when you see him come down the wing, power his way to the net or make a skilled play to create a chance, and you think that translates to an NHL scorer. He flashes high-end puck skills, but it hasn’t been consistent. He’s got a hard shot and scored quite a few goals this season from long distance. Consistency is a problem with him, as well as the fact that scouts aren’t the biggest fans of his decision-making. I’ve seen good vision from him, but I’ve seen many instances where he throws pucks away or forces plays that aren’t there He has some physicality, he defends fine and his coach this season trusted him with penalty killing responsibilities.
 
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And Goalies

Very Good NHL Prospect


4. Cayden Primeau, Montreal

Aug. 11, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 198 pounds

Drafted: 199th-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: No. 9

Athleticism: 55
Hockey Sense: 60

Primeau had a great season, was named the top goalie in college hockey and played great at the world juniors. Northeastern was a good team last season, and Primeau was a giant reason why. What I like about Primeau are how many dimensions his game has. He can play the steady goalie with low movement, and he’s quick enough to get to tough pucks (although his quickness isn’t elite). He reads plays very well and often is square with pucks, but he’s also great at improvising when he gets a bad bounce or he gets faked out. Sometimes Primeau can be too aggressive with his slides and positional play, but often he makes a ton of tough stops.

9. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buffalo

March 9, 1999 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds

Drafted: 54th-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: NR

Athleticism: 55
Hockey Sense: 60

Luukkonen was the best player in the OHL and a top player at the world juniors. He often stole games for Sudbury and was a big reason why it was a top team. I’m very conservative about tabbing goalies as projected No. 1s, but as one NHL scout put it this season, “If (Luukkonen)’s not a No. 1, what exactly does one look like?” He has all the tools between the size, IQ and athleticism. He moves very well for a big goalie. He can get across to pucks, challenge high and recover fine. He squares up a ton of pucks. Opponents rarely fool him with their puck-movement and he can improvise when needed. I found that even when he was in the right spot a lot and with his big frame, pucks would leak through his technique a bit more than they should, but that may be a nitpick.

12. Michael DiPietro, Vancouver

June 9, 1999 | six-foot | 201 pounds

Drafted: 64th-overall (2017)
Previous ranking: No. 8

Athleticism: 65
Hockey Sense: 60

DiPietro has been a top goalie in junior hockey for the past few years, even though his save percentage numbers have never been dazzling. He’s a show stealer in net. DiPietro has elite athleticism and is good for an elite save or two a night. He is lightning quick, but he’s also a very smart goaltender. He challenges shooters very well, is rarely out of position and anticipates the opposing team’s plays at a high level. He needs that quickness and intelligence because he is six-foot. There are times pucks get past him where you think, if he was two inches taller, those don’t happen. You just hope there’s enough of the other good stuff to balance that out, which I believe is the case.

16. Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina

June 25, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds

Drafted: 36th-overall (2019)
Previous ranking: N/A

Athleticism: 55
Hockey Sense: 60

Kochetkov is a late-blooming prospect who had a great year versus men at the second division pro level in Russia. He was dominant versus his peers when he played international hockey, including being named best goaltender at the world juniors. Kochetkov is a 6-foot-3 goalie who moves well, if not very well for a goalie his size. He gets post-to-post effectively while maintaining his technique. His lower half covers up the net very well. His hockey sense is high-end. He anticipates passes and plays at a top level, tracks the puck very well, and squares up pucks at a high frequency. Kochetkov can get a little over aggressive, which I like, but even when he loses the puck and must break from his technique, he’s quick and smart enough to make the desperation saves frequently. He has all the tools to be an NHL goalie.
 
I'm surprised you made the effort to capitalize the first letter of that sentence. I'd have shit myself if you made the effort to partake in this project.
 
Interesting take. I like both Pronman and Wheeler for their prospect work on the Athletic.

Here's my 'Pronman' list:

1. Hughes
3. Makar
17. Broberg
25. Boqvist
40. Kaprizov
50. Bokk
52. Comtois
63. Heponiemi
72. Dellandrea
77. N Robertson
92. Mitchell
94. Laaksonen
117. Fabbro


Wheeler only did a top 50, but here is where my prospects sit on his list:

1. Hughes
4. Makar
11. Kaprizov
13. Fabbro
14. Boqvist
19. Heponiemi
44. Terry
 
Wheeler has my guys at...

5. Evan Bouchard
6. Alex Turcotte
16. Martin Necas
25. Cole Caufield
33. Joe Veleno
41. Barrett Hayton
 
It really depends on what you are rating, upside? NHL readiness? Pronman generally leaves anyone off of his lists that has played any NHL games, others will allow players based on age.
 
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