Had a look at the hockey news annual on prospects. Yeah, even there reports don't seem to be as glowing as usual when you get past a half dozen players or so.
Given the first handful I'm assuming we won't get, these are guys I'd be interested in in the first round,first few in order of preference:
Cole Caulfield, Alex Newhook, Victor Soderstrom,Raphael Lavoie, Arthur Kaliyev, Thomas Harley, and in random order Cam York, Spencer Knight(goalie), Ville Heinola,Moritz Seider, Jakub Pelletier. And of course any of the lot if they fell to our next pick, I'm assuming in the second round.
I may have a hometown bias on Lavoie and know some are doubtful on him. The only other one I've seen play is Pelletier, on a couple of occasions. Wasn't great in those games, but is probably better than showed and is intriguing.
Second round,I'd look at any of the above and then any of Bobby Brink, Egor Afanasyev, Ryan Johnson. Next tier for that round Matthew Robertson, Philip Tomasino, Albin Grewe
Other players that checked a few boxes for me,perhaps in late second round or beyond,generally in order of preference- Yegor Spiridonov, Alex Beaucage, Maxim Cajovic, Vladislav Firstov, Aaron Huglen, Ethan Phillips, Adam Beckman, Nathan Legare, Ethan Keppen,Simon Holmstrom , Mattias Maccelli,Graeme Clarke , Blake Murray, Cole Mackay,
Comments or insights? Anyone else have a read on any of them? I am going sight unseen with minimal info except for the couple mentioned. And for god sakes, don't let the guys in the backyard escape, but only if they are any good.
