While he isn’t a typical pest, he doesn’t shy away from mixing it up with his opponents after the whistle when the situation arises. His game offensively is predicated on his speed and agility as well as his willingness to fight through traffic to find soft spots in coverage. The masthead gets together to answer your questions. He fared very well in Everett once he was on a good team. #WHL pic.twitter.com/S5YU7NwHp9, You know who loves @PuutioKasper? Scoring Leaders. There may be some risk to taking Savoie, but he could be another steal for the Leafs as a 2nd round pick if he falls all the way to them in the middle of the second round. After seeing the likes of DeBrincat and Robertson both fell outside of the first round due to their size, it’s not surprising to see people not so high on McClennon either. Wiesblatt seems to know what to do with his skating. The first prospect I want to mention isn’t even from the WHL, he’s from the AJHL — the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Jack Finley is a weird case because he seemingly breaks all the rules for how a prospect usually gets underrated. His hand-eye coordination is excellent resulting in deft deflections from in front, as well as in the faceoff dot. Thunder 3. Back to Excited Episode 140: First Impressions. His agility is good for a small player but isn’t as impressive as I had expected. That perception of how important height is for a goalie matters, so even though Garand is one of Canada’s top performing goalies he still has his overall ranking underrated. There are a few reasons I can surmise from reading his scouting reports: To that last point, Finley finished 52nd in the league in total points. He pinches effectively and if a lane is open to drive the net he does so with purpose. He was a pleasant surprise, much more noticeable than anticipated and involved at both ends of the ice. You would think that he’d rank at least as a first round prospect, or close to it. Gym/Physical Fitness Center. I’m a fan. Puutio has a deceptive side to his game. On the other hand, maybe they saw him and were so excited by him that they do pick him in the second round and we get a huge surprise/steal! Kelowna finished the year technically in a playoff spot (15th overall), and while they were by far not the worst team in the league (and my god there was some bad teams in the WHL...) they had a 29-28-3-3 record and a -29 goal differential. January has been all kinds of good for Garand, but it’s tough to say where he’ll go in June since he is undersized by today’s NHL goaltending standards. Despite his diminutive size, Novák is a smart player capable of killing penalties and is very coachable. He's quick to track forwards moving into his d-zone, wins the majority of his 1-on-1 battles, and is physical when needed. He seems to be a great passer in part because of how he uses his speed — attacks aggressively at defensemen to either back them up or draw them to him wide, opening a lane for his linemates to get open. @DU_Hockey recruit and @SPcrusaders Michael Benning is a right shot defenceman who is eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft. From Arlo Schulz at McKeen’s Hockey in January: Pavel Novák has met or exceeded all expectations since coming over to North America in his draft year. "#OneCru | #AJHL pic.twitter.com/cKL8Cvz3Wh, Carter Savoie finished off his four point night with this perfect pass to Arjun Atwal in front. He’s small-ish at 5’10” and 170 lbs, but a lot of scouts note he struggles a bit along the boards. It’s about how he got them. The Official Website of the sherwood park crusaders Apr 18 FINAL. He has elite vision and is able to find teammates ... Prospects, WHL … Finley possesses a fairly hard wrist shot but usually doesn’t try to score from distance like so many at the major junior level do. He needs to get stronger, especially in his core and lower body to help stay upright while getting a good push side to side. Drumheller Dragons. McClennon is a player for whom speed is a big component of his success. If you look at even strength assists he was 10th in the league. They lapped the field on how bad they were, posting a record of 10-48-2-3 for 25 points in 63 games. Now, that’s not to say that Benning will be the next Makar since points don’t tell the whole story. Savoie has a truly impressive shot. Amateur Sports Team. Most recently in the AJHL with Sherwood Park Crusaders. He might not be a guy I would most want to fall to the Leafs in the fourth round, but colour me interested if he does. People had a chance to appreciate his play for what it was without a raging tire fire in the background drawing their attention away. It’s a bit weird, because I can’t really find anyone who will mention something specific that holds him back, but he still doesn’t get rated very highly either. He has good vision and passing ability that enable him to make higher end plays than most. But I think a lot of people don’t. It would be impossible to replace the bazooka of a slapshot Gianni Fairbrother has. His right handedness opens up shot options. From Larry Fisher at The Hockey Writers from the CHL Top Prospects game in January: Puutio entered under the radar and presumably exceeded expectations. There is no panic in his game with the puck, especially under pressure. Impact Hockey Development. He is also good at using his edges and quickness to dart into soft parts of the ice to get tap in goals, even if his shot isn’t the best. It’s still VERY strongly weighted. So why is he ranked so low, and a bit all over the place? Not to say he’s UNskilled, but people consistently rank him behind other WHL forwards in that category. With that said, he looked incredible in his first game with the Edmonton Oil Kings. To finally bring this back to Puutio, he had 16 points in 35 games for Swift Current before he was traded to Everett mid-season. He had a chance to play for Finland’s U18 team in international play in the middle of the season and added 4 points in 5 games. But here’s the thing. Crossovers, deception, changes in speed, handling, and off-puck acceleration -- here's how Wiesblatt combines all of those elements for transition success. Is excellent at walking the line, and generates surprising power from his graceful stride. Michael Benning is the second of the AJHL prospects on this list. Novák is a good skater who likes to push the pace and get the puck to the middle of the ice. pic.twitter.com/jqpNljWsBB. I’d still be very intrigued if he is available in the second round when the Leafs have their pick, but it might still be a bit too early on him depending on who else is available. He is also really good at being able to find open space in the offensive zone. While this is not to say that Guenther’s draft stock took a huge hit, but he did not benefit from the long pause. At 6’1”, Garand isn’t really that short. With their second choice at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers selected Carter Savoie with the 100th overall pick. The @blazerhockey went down to score shorthanded not long after. WESTERN ELITE HOCKEY . Whether that be defending the lead late or needing a goal to tie the game, he has been extremely impressive ever since he was drafted by the Oil Kings. However, I’ve also seen some say that both statements are overblown. He has more than doubled his shot output this season by averaging 3.75 shots per game, which among the top in the WHL amongst draft eligible players. He is so good at anticipating the play and seeing passing lanes open up. Then he played for Canada at this past Hlinka and added 2 points in 5 games. NHL Central Scouting rates him as the 6th best goalie prospect in North America. In the highlights below, watch how often Wiesblatt (he’s #19 in the PA/green jerseys) uses quick turns or pivots on his edges and holds onto the puck just a biiiiiiiiiiiiiit longer to give a teammate more time to get open in a dangerous area. Because in his last game McClennon suffered a broken collarbone and will be out likely until the end of the WHL regular season, if not longer. That extra inch of height might lead him to having a better fate than Dustin Wolf did last year, even though Wolf had a far better season. Apr 18 FINAL. Robins might therefore be in a spot where the Leafs wouldn’t take him unless he falls to the fourth round or they wind up acquiring a 3rd round pick somehow. He is shifty through the neutral zone and does a good job of evading defenders as he walks the blue line. If this kid’s ability to track the puck can catch up to the rest of his game, he will be an NHL goaltender even at this size. His top speed is average but where he excels is in agility, edgework and the ability to change directions on a dime. He is slight at just 5’9″ and 170lbs but the Sherwood Park Crusader will likely be among the best defencemen on the AJHL circuit. He also seems to have a good backhand and slapshot, so he can score in a few different ways. Case in point: when putting together similar lists for the OHL and QMJHL I included 7 prospects each and that was the most I would find that interested me. Elite Prospects - Sherwood Park Crusaders. Middle-six potential, can do a lot of different things. For now, they range from 69 (Future Considerations... nice), to 81 (Elite Prospects), to 86th among North American Skaters (NHL Central Scouting). Sports Event. Puutio just so happened to start the season with one of the worst WHL teams since the 1980’s. Thunder 3. He is a dependable player with or without the puck, who could develop an untapped upside once he fully matures physically and realizes his capabilities. As you’ll also see below, Finley is already a complete player despite his age, and had heavy defensive usage while still being a strong offensive force. The Kamloops netminder is the top-ranked Canadian netminder on most draft boards but he is getting overshadowed by some very high-end European goalies. he had 54 points in the last 33 games playing against top lines. Two more goals for 2020 #NHLDraft prospect Jack Finley w/ @spokanechiefs on Wednesday. While he did get in a few games with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, he looked lost at times. Bonnyville PONTIACS Prospects and Bantam Elite Camp - April 17 - 19, 2020 Changed to May 8. With 70 points in 64 games, he also has offense and skill to spare while reportedly playing with a feisty edge. Makar had a very special set of skills that were evident from the start, especially his skating. He makes better reads and engages down low despite his lack of size. 2019-20 Team: Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) Date of Birth: Jan. 23, 2002 Place of Birth: St. Albert, AB Ht: 5-foot-10 Wt: Wolverines 0. He’s a near point per game forward AND he’s a pure center AND he’s 6’5” AND his skating is reportedly good for his size. In the WHL (and AJHL) I easily had 9 and would have added a couple more but didn’t want to over do it. But Kasper Puutio comes pretty close. He might be a steal even in the second round, but there’s a good chance that someone else who’s an even bigger steal falls to them in second round (see: Robertson, Nicholas). He doesn’t always get there with his feet as consistently as one would like but he filters the puck to the slot with efficiency and consistency. His top speed is fairly average which is not a great review but his agility and acceleration are where he stands out a little more. I think the size and the relatively obscure league is a hurdle some people can’t get over, even if he has some issues to overcome that a top prospect doesn’t have. Finley does have a good offensive skillset, too. #2021NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/2v7GQq72f5— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) February 27, 2021, Dylan Guenther with 4 points half way through his WHL opener tonight.Not a bad start. His vision allows him to create for opponents and his IQ allows him to find quiet spots in the offensive zone to set up for a scoring chance. He did well enough for himself to get an invite to the top CHL prospects game in January. This week Tim Fragle, who will be coaching one of the teams this year at the Western Elite Hockey Prospects Game on July 31st, was announced to be the new Head Coach of the AJHL's Sherwood Park Crusaders. He’s also got brilliant touch with the puck, which helps him feather saucer passes across the offensive zone off of his forehand and backhand. He judges his pinches well and follows the rotation of the puck, moving into a good position as the play develops. From Tony Terrari at Dobber Prospects in January: Dylan Garand is the player that ended up at 101, the first man on the outside looking in. Some also mention that he started the year as a second line winger, so there is doubt that he can stick at center especially since he’s 5’10” — not that small in today’s hockey world, but not big either. Willing to handle the puck in heavy traffic without losing it. Keep your eye on him this weekend! He makes cross ice one-timer passes consistently into the sweet spot for shooters. TV Channel. He’s also not as flashy as Makar, and he played for a powerhouse team (49-9-0 with a +143 goal differential) with a high powered offense led by Carter Savoie. Although they don’t have a lot of higher picks, there are a lot of very interesting “sleeper” picks from the Western provinces that may be undervalued by the hockey community at large. He was very good for Finland all year, playing with and against top level prospects. Sherwood Park Crusaders. Some scouts have him outside the top 10, and that may be due to the fact that he has not played a ton, but I think that is bound to change. Part 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ByHAUOvQJu, Benning can effectively break out the puck at every opportunity. They’ve played together at every level of hockey and every big tournament. Interest. If Guenther is able to fully develop over the next few years, I truly believe he could put up 80 points in the NHL one day. Carter Savoie and Ty Mueller team up as Savoie scores his 19th of the year to make it 4-2 Crusaders! Battles along the boards. He’s a treat to watch play every night #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/w5bR6r8Fci. In his first game of the season a few days ago, he was able to find some open space down near the net and made the opposition pay with his first goal of the season. Puutio rarely loses a foot race despite seldom appearing to be in a hurry. What a game, what a play. He is confident enough to go below the dots carrying the puck which opens up a lot of ice for teammates as the defense collapses on him. But for goalies? Now, that’s not to say that Zary is bad or Finley should also be a top 15 pick. Anywhere from the late-second to the late-third is a worthwhile range for him at this point. He was well on his way to doing so when he broke his collarbone and his season ended. He could be an effective middle six player that fits on both units of special teams and at worst carves out an effective bottom six role at the highest level. One of the major takeaways on the new season is how good top 2021 NHL Draft prospect Dylan Guenther looks. His effort level coupled with his speed make him a constant thorn in the side of opposing teams. Oil Barons-Storm-Apr 24 5:00pm. He skates well, moves the puck up the ice and his game is quite good in transition. Swift Current played 63 total games before the season was cancelled. He can create offense off the cycle, has good hands, and can tip pucks well. Crazywildfun Inflatables Hwy 21 Sherwood Park… If that doesn’t sound that familiar to you, it is a junior league that noted scrub Cale Makar played in before being drafted by Colorado and playing two years in the NCAA. Through movement he creates lanes for passing. Pavel Novák has quick feet, a good shot, and adept passing ability. Tristen Robins is my Adam Beckman of this season. He shoots to the far side more than most players I have seen, which is risky, but he can make it work because he is accurate. NHL Central Scouting rates him as the 38th best skater in North America, but that’s it. He recently went on an 11 game point streak and had 29 points in his last full 18 games played. Half a season, with no international play on his resume, and no playoffs this year to increase his profile, has some people in doubt about how legit his second-half was of his true talent. I’m asking myself how differently his rankings and scouting reports would look like if he continued his torrid pace once he got hot. Heads up play from Seeley at the point to immediately slide the puck over to Puutio, who winds up and claps one past Hofer. The 2020 draft-eligible forward has been impressive in his first season in North America. His active stick helps him break up plays or move loose pucks quickly. Even if points don’t tell the whole story, Benning is clearly talented. You wonder how much better he could be on even a mediocre team. I will be very interested to see as more people’s final draft rankings come out, if Puutio gets a bit more of a bump. On one hand, he has exploded offensively after a slow start. KHQ Local News. He will play on the power play wherever he goes, able to play the slot, the flank or the point (where he is particularly dangerous). For shits and giggles, I looked up goalies who are the same height or shorter than Garand who played at least one NHL game this year. From distance he can release a hard wrist shot that will beat a goalie clean without a screen. His battle level was impressive, trying to be physical and defending aggressively, then flashing his offensive upside while quarterbacking a power play in the third period. Things are looking up for Puutio as of late, getting traded from a poor Swift Current team to a contender in Everett, then making the most of this opportunity. He can shift speeds and directions with minimal movement which helps keep his speed as he moves around the ice. He’s not fast but he opens up his feet top evade pressure and creates going heel-to-heel. Finley also reads and anticipates plays well, which allows him to follow developing plays and put himself in positions for secondary scoring chances. Kamloops Blazers. I like to give an extra benefit of the doubt for a player who a) leads his team in scoring as a first-time draft eligible player, and b) is on a bad team. Pontiacs 4. Apr 23 6:00pm. Our team has the pleasure of working with hundreds of high-performing amateurs in all sports included in the NCAA & U Sports programs. He had 4 goals and 12 points in 21 games and played the top pair on a much more respectable team, and stood out for his skating and puck handling. But I do think it can add up to a not insignificant degree to which he gets underrated. Instead, he’s on loan with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL. Once in the offensive end he is focused on generating offense which is where his skills shine. It’s not about the point totals. I’d say there an outside chance he falls to the fourth round, but it’s small. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-box-4-0')}; While Guenther may not be as well known for his play away from the puck, he is certainly no slouch in the defensive zone either. I am a writer here at THW who covers the OHL and prospects in general. In fact, he is not only a teammate of Carter Savoie’s on Sherwood Park but they’re childhood friends. Updated hourly with news and features from over 150 writers worldwide. A protoypical centerman with the combination of size and skill that teams covet. Spokane had a pretty dynamite PP1 unit with Adam Beckman, 2019/20 Stats: 70 points in 64 games (2nd on the team), 2019/20 Stats: 49 points in 42 games (5th on the team), 2019/20 Stats: 58 points in 55 games (1st on the team), 2019/20 Stats: 75 points in 54 games (4th on the team, 1st among defensemen), Team: Swift Current Broncos / Everett Silvertips. 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