Hockeywiztalks Hockey Blog

 Ryan O'Rourke Soo Greyhounds OHL D 6'2"/181 Size/Strength       Excellent Skating       Good Shot/Scoring       Average Puckhandling          Average Physical Play       Excellent Offensive Play       Average Defensive Play       Excellent Hockey Sense         Good Competitiveness      Excellent Strengths 1. Terrific Defensive awareness and leadership ability 2. excels shutting down oppositions top players and thrives under pressure 3. Very mobile and makes smart decisions with the puck Cause for Concern 1. Offensive production 2. Offensive game is still a bit raw  Skill: A mature all around defenseman that is a pain to play against and excels in pressure situations and as a leader. Scouting Report: Ryan O'Rourke is a very mature defender, that playing well above his age. He’s able to be used in all sit...

Jacob Perreault Sarnia Sting OHL C 5'11"/198 Size/Strength         Average Skating         Above Average Shot/Scoring         Excellent Puckhandling          Excellent Physical Play         Average Offensive Play Excellent Defensive Play Below Average Hockey Sense        Good Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. Owns one of the best shots in the draft and is easily one of the most lethal bad-angle scorers 2. Can snipe it from anywhere and has silky-smooth hands with a soft touch, which allows him to roof pucks from in close 3. Has tremendous puck control and also is a very good passer around the net Cause for Concern 1. Defensive zone coverage 2. Needs to improve his skating speed 3. Needs to add more strength  Skill: One of the best pure scorers in the draft, has one of the best shots in the draft and very good puck contro...

 Mavrik Bourque Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL C 5'10"/165  Size/Strength       Below Average Skating       Average Shot/Scoring       Excellent Puckhandling          Good Physical Play       Good Offensive Play Excellent Defensive Play       Average Hockey Sense       Excellent Competitiveness       Excellent Strengths 1. Possesses high end skill with tremendous Hockey IQ 2. Tremendous playmaker with great hands, vision and passing ability and also has a quick and accurate shot as well 3. Can raise his level of play in big games and big moments Cause for Concern 1. Doesn't have elite speed 2. Needs to add more strength  3. Defensive consistency Skill: Highly skilled playmaker that excels as a point producing forward and has tremendous hockey IQ. Scouting Report: Mavrik Bourque has been Shawinigan's go to scorer since he entere...

William Wallinder MODO Hockey Allsvenskan D 6'4"/192 Size/Strength       Excellent Skating       Excellent Shot/Scoring       Good Puckhandling          Good Physical Play       Excellent Offensive Play       Good Defensive Play      Excellent Hockey Sense       Excellent Competitiveness       Excellent Strengths 1. Great two way defender, with exceptional mobility and puck skills 2. Lots of upside, quick feet, quick outlets and not afraid to jump into the rush 3. Is reliable in his own zone and has shown flashes of offensive brilliance Cause for Concern 1. Possesses the high end skills to be an elite player but is still a bit raw 2. Needs to show more offensive consistency if he is to be a top prospect Skill: A big two way defenseman that has unlimited offensive upside Scoutin...

Dylan Holloway Univ. of Wisconsin  NCAA C/LW 6'0"/192  Size/Strength       Excellent Skating       Excellent Shot/Scoring       Average Puckhandling        Excellent Physical Play       Great Offensive Play      Great Defensive Play      Excellent Hockey Sense       Excellent Competitiveness    Excellent Strengths 1. A big two-way forward, that has superb hockey iq and is a difference maker in all three zones 2. Terrific defensive awareness, vision and great net front presence 3. Excellent skater, plays with with grit and toughness and engages in physical play. Cause for Concern 1. A lack of offensive production at Wisconsin is concerning 2. Needs to improve his shot Skill: A big two way forward who plays both center and Left wing that will bring grit and toughness to the lineup. Scoutin...

Seth Jarvis Portland Winterhawks WHL 5'10"/ 172 lb RW Size/Strength       Below Average Skating       Great Shot/Scoring       Great Puckhandling        Excellent Physical Play       Average Offensive Play       Excellent Defensive Play       Average Hockey Sense        Great Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. highly-skilled winger who displays a soft touch with the puck and the ability maneuver around with puck in tight spaces 2. strong skater who zips around the ice, agile on his edges in all three zones 3. Elite Playmaking and scoring abilities Cause for Concern 1. His lack of size may cause teams to pass on him 2. Defensive play could be improved 3. Needs to get stronger to excel at the next level Skill: Highly-skilled winger who displays a soft touch with the puck an...

Connor Zary Kamloops Blazers WHL 6'0"/ 181 lb C Size/Strength       Good Skating       Good Shot/Scoring       Good Puckhandling         Excellent Physical Play       Good Offensive Play       Great Defensive Play       Great Hockey Sense        Great Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. A two-way center, that is a difference maker in all three zones 2. great patience and poise with the puck 3. very good speed and is equally dangerous with the shot and pass Cause for Concern 1. Doesn't exactly wow anyone with his style of play 2. Does everything well but notheing really great Skill: Sound two way Center with terrific speed, puck possesion skills and a good nose around the net. Scouting Report: Connor Zary has been outstanding this past season with the resurgent Ka...

Braden Schneider Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 6'2"/ 209 lb D Size/Strength       Excellent Skating       Great Shot/Scoring       Great Puck Handling        Average Physical Play       Excellent Offensive Play       Great Defensive Play       Excellent Hockey Sense         Great Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. right hand shooting, two way defenseman, capable of playing the powerplay and penalty kill 2. physically mature and finishes checks with authority in all areas of the ice 3. Great leadership skills, competitiveness and smarts Cause for Concern 1. limited offensive upside 2. rates more as a complementary player as of now 3. closer to his ceiling than many in this class Skill: A two-way, right handed shot defenseman capable of playing in all situations and has great co...

Jack Quinn Ottawa 67's OHL 5'11"/ 176 lb RW Size/Strength         Great Skating         Average Shot/Scoring         Excellent Puck Handling          Excellent Physical Play         Average Offensive Play Excellent Defensive Play Average Hockey Sense         Great Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. Talented playmaker with dynamic puck skills and creativity 2. Keeps puck on a string and is able to maneuver in and out of traffic, keeping defenders off balance 3. Complete versatile player, who plays a great two way game and competes hard Cause for Concern 1. Breakout season could be a one year wonder 2. Even though he has improved a great deal, he still needs more get stronger and improve on his skating 3. Wasn't the primary offensive weapon on his junior team Skill: A Creative playmak...

Rodion Amirov Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 6'0"/ 168 lb LW Size/Strength       Great Skating       Excellent Shot/Scoring       Excellent Puckhandling        Excellent Physical Play       Average Offensive Play       Excellent Defensive Play       Great Hockey Sense         Excellent Competitiveness     Great Strengths 1. Strong skating two way winger, with High IQ 2. Sees the ice very well, has a quick and deadly release on his shot 3. Complete player, can play in all situations Cause for Concern 1. lacks physicality and has loooked overwelmed in limited KHL usage 2. Needs more speed and strength 3. Doesn't have expolsive speed Skill: A skilled Left Winger, with speed, an incredible shot and great hockey IQ and can play in all situations. Scouting Report: Rodion Amirov is a hig...

Dawson Mercer Chicoutimi Saguendeens QMJHL 6'0"/ 179 lb RW Size/Strength        Excellent Skating        Above Average Shot/Scoring        Excellent Puckhandling         Great Physical Play        Excellent Offensive Play        Excellent Defensive Play Excellent Hockey Sense         Excellent Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. Intelligent, Play-creating winger with high IQ 2. Terrific Forechecker, excels below the hash marks and plays in all situations 3. Can score and set up teammates at an elite rate Cause for Concern 1. Injury slowed his production in his draft year 2. Wasn't less depended upon in Chicoutimi after being traded there from from Drummondville 3. Doesn't have expolsive speed Skill: A Creative Winger, with great two way instincts, and a great touch...

Alexander Holtz Djurgardens IF SHL 6'0"/ 182 lb RW/LW Size/Strength           Excellent Skating           Above Average Shot/Scoring           Excellent Puckhandling            Above Average Physical Play            Average Offensive Play    Excellent Defensive Play    Below Average Hockey Sense            Excellent Competitiveness        Excellent Strengths 1. Elite shooter with great shot selection 2. excellent release and goal scoring ability 3. anticipates well and always is into position to score Cause for Concern 1. Subpar defense skills 2. Skating can be improved 3. Can be somewhat one dimensional Skill: An Elite scorer, with a great selection and can finish from all around the offensive zone Scouting Report: Alexan...

Kaiden Guhle Prince Albert Raiders WHL 6'3"/ 187 lb D Size/Strength         Excellent Skating         Good Shot/Scoring         Great Puckhandling          Average Physical Play         Excellent Offensive Play Great Defensive Play Excellent Hockey Sense         Excellent Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. Physically imposing defenseman that is the complete package 2. two way defenseman with good skating skills and a great shot 3. engages in heavy physical play and makes oppenents aware of when he's out there Cause for Concern 1. Lacks offensive creativity 2. Skating could be improved 3. shows flashes of playmaking ability but is inconsistent Skill: Two Way Defenseman, with good skating skills, a hard shot and imposing size Scouting Report: Kaiden Guhle is strapping blueliner w...

Yaroslav Askarov SKA-Neva St.Petersburg VHL 6'3"/ 176 lb G Size/Frame                 Excellent Net Coverage            Excellent Quickness                  Excellent Rebound Control    Great Tracking               Excellent Poise/Consistency     Excellent Hockey Sense            Excellent Competitiveness        Excellent Strengths 1. Big Goalie with great poise, atleticism and a quick glove 2. Remarkable power, quickness and precision on lateral movement 3. Tremendous size, hockey sense and agressiveness to steal a match Cause for Concern 1. Subpar World Junior Performance by his standard 2. The position he plays may cause him to fall in the draft, as we saw in Andrei Vasilevskiy Skill: Franchise Changing...

Jake Sanderson USNTDP Juniors USHL 6'1"/ 186 lb D Size/Strength          Excellent Skating          Great Shot/Scoring          Average Puckhandling           Great Physical Play          Excellent Offensive Play  Average Defensive Play  Excellent Hockey Sense          Excellent Competitiveness      Excellent Strengths 1. Mobile defenseman with untappped offensive potential 2. Tremendous leader and has poise beyond his years 3. Elite hockey sense and uses his size effectively on both sides of the puck Cause for Concern 1. Offensive upside isn't elite 2. Needs to improve on defensive zone coverage 3. Not a point producer Skill: Two Way Defenseman, with high Hockey IQ, with a dominant defensive mindset and untapped offensive potential Scouting Report:...

Anton Lundell HIFK LIIGA 6'1"/ 183 lb C Size/Strength        Excellent Skating        Average Shot/Scoring        Great Puckhandling        Excellent Physical Play         Excellent Offensive Play Excellent Defensive Play  Excellent Hockey Sense          Excellent Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. Two-way centre, with an elite Brain 2. Poise and Patience with the puck; tough to knock off the puck on the cycle 3. tremendous playmaker with great hands and quick release on his shot  Cause for Concern 1. not the best skater but has impoved 2. Limited offensive Ceiling 3. lacks that dynamic skill element in his game Skill: Two Way Center, with high Hockey IQ, is a great playmaker and tough to knock off the puck on the cycle Scouting Report: Anton Lundell is a polished, two...

Cole Perfetti Saginaw Spirit OHL 5'10"/ 177 lb C Size/Strength         Average Skating         Average Shot/Scoring         Excellent Puckhandling          Excellent Physical Play         Average Offensive Play        Excellent Defensive Play Below Average Hockey Sense         Excellent Competitiveness      Great Strengths 1. Highly Skilled player with a high hockey IQ, is an excellent puck handler has a quick release on his shot 2. Elite passer and scorer with exceptional vision 3. very dynamic offensive player and a point producing machine Cause for Concern 1. not a great skater but has improved throughout the season 2. undersized center; could be an issue going up against bigger centers in the NHL 3. Defensive play needs to be improved if he wants be a center in the...

Lucas Raymond Frolunda HC SHL 5'10"/ 165 lb RW/LW Size/Strength         Below Average Skating         Excellent Shot/Scoring         Excellent Puckhandling          Excellent Physical Play         Excellent Offensive Play Excellent Defensive Play Excellent Hockey Sense         Excellent Competitiveness      Excellent Strengths 1. explosive winger who is equally dangerous with his shot or pass 2. plays a strong two-way game, intensity and has terrific vision 3. Clutch player, exceptional undre pressure, creative in transition and in offensive zone Cause for Concern 1. lack of production due to lack of opportunity of Frolunda 2. Playing against men in North America 3. Undersized player and isn't a top end skater Skill: Two way Winger, with high end playmaking and scoring skills and a great h...

Marco Rossi Ottawa 67's OHL C 5'9"/176 Size/Strength        Great (for his size) Skating        Average Shot/Scoring        Excellent Puckhandling         Excellent Physical Play        Great Offensive Play       Excellent Defensive Play      Excellent  Hockey Sense        Excellent Competitiveness     Excellent Strengths 1. highly skilled offensive player that is tough to know off the puck despite being only 5'9" 2. terrific playmaker and scorer with high hockey IQ 3. Great on both sides of the puck Cause for Concern 1. His Size could cause him to fall in the draft despite his immense talent 2. Some Gms fear that Rossi won't be able to sustain his production at the NHL level 3. Has been suspended for dirty plays Skill: Point producting Center, with hi...