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Prospect Notes: Liljegren, Hischier, Makar

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The Athletic’s Sunaya Sapurji reports that defenseman Timothy Liljegren, Toronto’s 17th overall pick, will continue to play in the Swedish league and not join the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs, who selected him 12th in the CHL Import Draft. His North American agent, Peter Wallen, said that Liljegren’s camp felt that time with Niagara wouldn’t be the “perfect spot” to develop his talent. Wallen doubles down, saying that his client will “never play for Niagara.” Stating that the Leafs are “100 percent” in Liljegren’s plan to stay in Sweden, Wallen adds:

“He’s not coming to play for Niagara. It’s not even a question. And even if it was a question we would still need Toronto to sign him and then for Rogle to release him for him to play for anyone else but the Maple Leafs.”

Should the 18-year-old defenseman sign with the Leafs, he would be able to play for the AHL affiliate Marlies midseason due to the fact that he played in the Swedish Hockey League and not the junior leagues. Playing junior hockey would have restricted him from seeing time in the AHL or NHL due to an agreement between the NHL and CHL regarding the “jump” to the pros. Sapurji points out that Liljegren expressed his desire to stay in Sweden–regardless of where he was taken–prior to the draft.

June 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Timothy Liljegren poses for photos after being selected as the number seventeen overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

  • First overall pick Nico Hischier was featured in a New York Times article yesterday, chronicling his journey to the NHL. The Times’ Dave Caldwell reports that the Swiss native saw his stock skyrocket after a strong world juniors performance while quietly sneaking up the ranks throughout the season. His strong play continued in the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. Described as being “very grounded,” by New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero, Hischier could very well take the NHL by storm as quietly–and quickly–as he did in juniors and on the world stage.
  • Some had Cale Makar as a possibility to go first overall, but he ended up going fourth to the Colorado Avalanche, which could be considered a steal down the road. Next on the list for the 18-year-old defenseman is time at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he will continue to hone his skills for a shot at the NHL. Makar calls it a “reality check” when speaking with NHL.com’s Rick Sadowski, and adds that it doesn’t matter what happened before in terms of his career. Saying that he wants to “round out” his game, Makar is confident that he is an eventual NHL product and that belief is shared by the Colorado brass. Alan Hepple, the Director of Amateur Scouting for Colorado, goes as far to say that Makar is the “generational player” teams seek in a defenseman.

All photographs courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

New Jersey Selects Nico Hischier With 1st Overall Pick

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The New Jersey Devils took  center Nico Hischier with the first overall pick in the draft.

New Jersey took Hischier over Brandon Wheat Kings captain Nolan Patrick, which isn’t surprising as many had the 18-year-old center eclipsing Patrick. Hischier was rumored for months to have overtaken Patrick in the draft thanks to a strong showing at the world juniors and throughout the season with Halifax. It also marks the first Swiss player to be chosen #1 overall in the NHL Draft. Hischier’s stock had been rising throughout the season, and his pairing with Taylor Hall could produce one of the more lethal scoring threats in the league as he develops.

With the Moosehead, Hischier put up 86 points (38-48) in 57 games.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Taylor Raddysh To ELC

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After winning the OHL Championship and getting ready to participate in the Memorial Cup, Taylor Raddysh has inked a three-year entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Raddysh and the Erie Otters were victorious on Friday night in game 5 of the championship series against Mississauga, with Raddysh scoring a hat-trick in the final game.

That victory marked another huge accomplishment for Raddysh this season, as he scored 42 goals and 109 points in just 58 games while also starring for Team Canada at the World Juniors. After being picked 58th-overall last summer, Raddysh is showing the league he should have been selected much higher. Part of the OHL’s most dominant line along with Chicago Blackhawks prospect Alex DeBrincat and Arizona Coyotes pick Dylan Strome, Raddysh recorded another 31 points in the playoffs and will be a big factor in any Memorial Cup dreams for the Otters.

Raddysh showed this season that he’s not just a solid two-way winger but a potential top-line power forward that can keep up with elite talents and score almost at will. While his line’s play inflated his numbers somewhat, his offensive game took a big step forward this season as he continued to fill out his 6’2″ 209-lbs frame. Always considered an average-or-worse skater, this season saw him drive the net with more power and determination leading to more scoring chances for himself and his linemmates. If that stride can continue to develop he will impress at the professional level before long. He’ll likely return to Erie next season where he’ll be relied upon to carry much of the offensive load with Strome graduating and DeBrincat perhaps jumping right to the NHL. If he does stay in the OHL, it will be interesting to see him work with Ivan Lodnia, likely the next top center for the Otters and a top prospect for the upcoming draft.

Interestingly, Taylor’s brother Darren Raddysh went undrafted and is a free agent with much interest from around the league. The 21-year old defenseman dominated the OHL as an overager with 81 points this season and was named Defenseman of the Year. While he doesn’t possess the ceiling of his younger brother, Darren should find a home with an NHL team this summer somewhere, perhaps even Tampa Bay should the Lightning want to reunite the duo. As a right-handed shot with enough size to compete in pro hockey, his offensive ability has definitely turned some heads around the league.

Players To Watch In Upcoming QMJHL Finals

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With the Ontario Hockey League final series getting underway tonight, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is awaiting its own championship kick-off tomorrow. The winners of both series, while league champions in their own right, also earn a spot in the Memorial Cup Tournament, where they’ll try to assert themselves as the top team in all of Canadian junior hockey.

While the QMJHL doesn’t feature quite as much star power as its OHL counterpart this year, there are plenty of names taking part in the finals who could be making an impact in the NHL as soon as next season. Behind a stalwart defensive pair and consistent scoring, the Saint John Sea Dogs cruised to a 48-14-5 record in 2016-17, which gave them the regular season crown by a whole nine points over the closest contender. The Sea Dogs’ impressive pace has not slowed down at all in the postseason; they went 12-1-1 on their way to a title berth. Now, Saint John has to get the job done when it matters most, as they know too well what falling short feels like after a semifinal exit last season. Their opposition for the championship is the upstart Blainville-Boisbriand Armanda. The Armada finished second in the West Division behind defending champion Rouyn-Noranda, but had the fourth-best record in the league at 43-19-4. Armed with two elite trade acquisitions, the Armanda charged through the playoffs and capped off their run to the title match-up with an upset over the #3-seed Charlottetown Islanders.

These two teams have been nearly unstoppable in the QMJHL playoffs and are charged up and ready to go. Who should you keep an eye on when the series starts tomorrow?

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada/Columbus Blue Jackets

A player who most hockey fans have heard of by now, Dubois was the third overall pick in the NHL Draft last June by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although many expected that he would make the team out of camp, the Blue Jackets brass felt he was not ready and returned the young center to his junior team, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Although he scored 18 points in his first 20 games of the season, it was far off his pace from 2015-16, when he finished with 99 points in 62 contests. Cape Breton decided to trade Dubois to Blainville-Boisbriand for a package that included two high draft picks. Dubois returned to his high-scoring ways with the Armada, posting 37 points in 28 regular season games and added 21 more through 15 postseason games thus far. Dubois is a well-rounded player with great offensive skill and strong two-way ability. If the Armada hope to knock off the Sea Dogs, Dubois will have to be the difference-maker.

Thomas Chabot, Saint John Sea Dogs/Ottawa Senators

Another star prospect many felt would be in the NHL this season, 2015 first-round pick Chabot has instead dominated the QMJHL since returning from his brief stint – one game played, -2 rating – with Ottawa earlier this season. An excellent possession defenseman who has speed and puck-moving ability, Chabot racks up the points from the blue line. In 34 regular season games in 2016-17, he accumulated 45 points. He also took a brief break to dominate the World Juniors with ten points in seven games as the alternate captain for Team Canada. Yet, he has still been able to take his game up a notch in the playoffs, posting 19 points in 14 games. Not only does that top all defensemen in the postseason, it’s also good enough for ninth overall. Chabot is a difficult player to match up against and will likely continue to score in the upcoming final series as he works to win a championship for the team he has played for since 2013.

Mathieu Joseph, Sain John Sea Dogs/Tampa Bay Lightning

GM Steve Yzerman picked a good one in the fourth round in 2015, as Joseph has been a revelation for Saint John the past two seasons. A multi-skilled winger who apparently was just slow to develop, Joseph went from a 42-point campaign in 2014-15 to 73 last year and 80 this year. Centered by recent Chicago Blackhawks signee Matthew Highmore, Joseph put up career numbers and finished tied for 12th in scoring in the QMJHL. To top off an incredible season, Joseph is second in postseason scoring with eleven goals and eleven assists already through just 14 games. No one has slowed Joseph down thus far and the Armada have their work cut out for them.

Alex Barre-Boulet, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

The only player scoring more than Joseph in the postseason has been Barre-Boulet. Passed up in the NHL Draft last year, the small, shifty center has done just about everything possible to make sure that doesn’t happen again. After scoring 89 points in 65 games last year for the Drummondville Voltigeurs was not enough, Barre-Boulet requested a trade midway through the season to a team with championship hopes in an effort to extend his season. Adding on to his 48 points from Drummondville, he registered 33 points in the Armada’s final 28 games and finished 11th in league scoring with 81 points total. In the playoffs though, he is alone in first by quite a margin. Barre-Boulet has 29 points, including 13 on the power play, in just 16 games. A player with a point to make, unlike many of the top players in the series, Barre-Boulet will perhaps be the most dangerous competitor that Saint John has to face.

Jakub Zboril, Saint John Sea Dogs/Boston Bruins

Luckily, the Sea Dogs have had an answer for some of the top offensive talent in the QMJHL this year (and last year and the year before that) in Czech defenseman Zboril. A 2015 first-round pick of the Bruins, Zboril is known as one of the best two-way defenseman in the league. A dominant force in the neutral zone, Zboril can carry the puck and fire a hard shot on goal and then speed back to his own end for a hard check as well. In a league that has historically been fast-moving and high-offense, Zboril has helped to keep scoring down in Saint John for the visitors. He also gets on the board himself with 41 points in 50 games this season. One of a number of elite Boston defensive prospects, enjoy Zboril dominating the juniors while you can, because he’ll be turning pro after the season.

Julien Gauthier, Saint John Sea Dogs/Carolina Hurricanes

The rich got richer at the QMJHL Trade Deadline this season as the Sea Dogs acquired 2016 Carolina first-rounder Gauthier from the Val-d’Or Foreurs. A big power forward who isn’t afraid to use his 6’4″, 225-lb. frame, but also has a surprising finesse game, Gauthier is a valuable weapon. However, while he managed to score more than a point per game for both Val-d’Or and Saint John en route to a 51-point season, the Sea Dogs know that Gauthier has more to offer. With 11 points in 14 postseason games, he’s made his presence felt, but if Gauthier plays to his potential in this final series, he could really tip the scales in Saint John’s favor.

Players To Watch In Upcoming OHL Finals

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Tonight marks the start of the championship series in the OHL, which will determine which team represents the league in the annual Memorial Cup tournament, made up of the top teams of each of the three Canadian Hockey League entities. This year, that tournament will be held in Windsor, Ontario meaning that the hometown Spitfires will get also get a berth—even though they were knocked out of the first round of these OHL playoffs.

In the finals we’ll see the powerhouse Erie Otters take on the upstart Mississauga Steelheads, a battle between the top team in the league this season versus a team who led their division, but would have placed no higher than third in any other. Erie had an extremely difficult road to the finals, needing an overtime game in the seventh match of their second round series to stay alive. Mississauga on the other hand lost just three games in three series, showing once again that regular season play doesn’t necessarily mean much in the postseason.

Now, the two teams will crash together and show off the next wave of talent for the NHL, some of which has even already had a taste of the NHL. First, let’s look at some already-drafted players who will make the jump to professional hockey very soon.

Dylan Strome, Erie Otters/Arizona Coyotes

The third-overall pick in the 2015 draft was a disappointment to some when he couldn’t do enough to lock up a job this fall in Arizona. In his seven game taste, he registered just a single assist and wasn’t his dominant self at the World Juniors. Since he has returned to Erie though he’s shown that the OHL just isn’t enough for him. With 75 points in 35 games, Strome showed a glimpse of how he was possibly taken ahead of Mitch Marner and Noah Hanifin in his draft year.

Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters/Chicago Blackhawks

DeBrincat was a linemate of Strome’s in the second half and the pair (along with Tampa’s Taylor Raddysh) made one of the most dominant groups in recent memory. The Chicago Blackhawks second-round pick scored 65 goals and 127 points in 63 games, and has added another 31 in the playoffs so far. All this from a kid who was cut from the Team USA World Junior squad this season—he took it personally.

Michael McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads/New Jersey Devils

A first-round pick from last summer, McLeod is one of the strongest skaters in the league and uses it to play pro-style hockey up and down the rink. Not the offensive talent that either Strome or DeBrincat are, he did nonetheless put up 73 points in 57 games and has turned it up even further in the playoffs. He limits opposing teams when he’s on the ice with his puck possession, and will be an excellent NHL player for a long, long time.

There are also several draft-eligible prospects in the series, some who hold huge roles on their respective teams. Two from the Steelheads stand out as first-round locks in this summer’s draft.

Owen Tippett, Mississauga Steelheads

Tippett is about as “pure” of a goal-scorer you can find in this year’s draft, embodying the sniper archetype. He can score from anywhere in the offensive zone with an incredible wrist shot or power moves to the net. He scored 44 goals in 60 games, and has added another seven in the playoffs. While he’s not the big center that everyone hopes for early in the draft, he’ll be selected in the top-10 because of his ability to put the puck in the net. He’s not quite Patrik Laine, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make an immediate impact as a rookie.

Nicolas Hague, Mississauga Steelheads

You wouldn’t believe it if you saw the lanky 6’5″ defender, but Hague can move around the ice better than most defenders in the league and has natural offensive instincts. His defensive game has come a long way, and seems committed to improving at the next level. He scored 18 goals in the regular season, jumping into the rush and unleashing a raw but powerful shot from the point. Returning to the OHL next season after going somewhere in the middle of round one, he should be one of the top defenders in the league.

Ivan Lodnia, Erie Otters

Lodnia won’t turn 18 until August, and is still extremely raw as a prospect. His ability to grind down opponents is already apparent though, and his offensive game has started to round into form even being buried somewhat on a veteran Erie team. After 56 points in 66 games in the regular season, he’s completely disappeared in the playoffs thus far. He’ll likely drop down into the middle of the second round, but someone may get a hidden gem in that spot. When the Otters lose 5-6 forwards ahead of him this summer, he’ll be front-and-center as a top scoring option next year.

Minor Moves: Sharks, Team USA, Team Canada

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The San Jose Sharks have sent Timo Meier and Marcus Sorensen back to the AHL for the playoff run according to Keven Kurz of NBC. The two forwards were dominant offensive players for the Barracuda this year when they weren’t playing for the Sharks, and will add a definite scoring punch to a team that has already scored eight goals through their first two games.

Meier and Sorensen combined for 31 goals and 57 points in 76 games for the Barracuda, and both will likely compete for full-time jobs with the Sharks next season. More news from the recently eliminated teams…

  • Kevin Allen of USA Today reports that both Charlie McAvoy and Trevor van Riemsdyk will be joining Team USA at the World Championships. The pair add to a defense group that is becoming quite impressive and already included Noah Hanifin and Jacob Trouba. McAvoy will be joining his fifth different team of the season after spending time with Boston University, the Providence and Boston Bruins, and Team USA at the World Juniors. He’s made an impact at every level so far, and shouldn’t be overlooked as a possible star at this latest tournament.
  • Team Canada will gain a young star of their own, as Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun reports that Mitch Marner will head to the tournament. After several Maple Leafs turned the tournament down—including Auston Matthews, Nikita Zaitsev and just today Morgan Rielly—Marner will head off to compete in his first international event that isn’t age-restricted. In the U20 World Juniors last year, Marner recorded six points in five games but was left off last year’s World Championships and last fall’s World Cup teams. It’s not likely that he’ll be overlooked very often in the future, after posting 61 points in 77 games as a rookie this year.

Kasperi Kapanen Sent Back To AHL

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Kasperi Kapanen back to the AHL to take part in the playoffs with the Marlies. Coming up late in the season, Kapanen played in all six postseason games for the Leafs this year, scoring two huge goals in a game 2 victory. The Finnish forward is becoming something of a “clutch” performer scoring the golden goal for Finland at the World Juniors last year and registering his first NHL tally in a do-or-die game for the Maple Leafs down the stretch.

The son of Sami Kapanen, Kasperi was picked in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014 before being shipped off to Toronto as part of the Phil Kessel deal. In 43 games with the Marlies this season, he registered 43 points and was their best player on most nights. He’ll look to continue that and show why he was once considered a top-10 talent prior to his draft.

The Maple Leafs don’t have a lot of room on the wing next season, especially after Mike Babcock said this morning that William Nylander was destined to stay there for at least another season. Kapanen, along with Josh Leivo, Kerby Rychel, Nikita Soshnikov and others will all be competing for limited spots next season. With Mitch Marner and now Nylander firmly entrenched on the right side, it will be interesting to see if the Leafs open up a spot on the left by moving out an expiring contract like James van Riemsdyk or Leo Komarov. Either way it will be a big summer for Kapanen as he tries to prove that he belongs full-time in the NHL next season.

Prospect Snapshots: Vesalainen, Kopacka, Nosek

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Finland’s Kristian Vesalainen was named the MVP of the 2017 U18 IIHF Ice Hockey World Champions today despite the team’s 4-2 loss to Team USA in the gold medal game today . The 17-year-old forward is considered to be a first-round target in the upcoming 2017 NHL Draft and his stock could be rising after he scored six goals and 13 points in the tournament. NHL.com has him rated the seventh-ranked European skater in the draft.

Versalainen was also named the Best Forward in the Directorate Awards along with fellow countryman Miro Heiskanen for Best Defenseman and Russia’s Maxim Zhukov as the Best Goaltender. The United States had three players voted to the Media All-Star team, including goalie lan St. Cyr, defenseman Maxwell Gidon and forward Sean Dhooghe. Vesalainen, Heiskanen and Russian forward Ivan Chekhovich rounded out the voting.

  • The Anaheim Ducks announced they have signed 2016 fourth-round pick Jack Kopacka to a three-year entry-level contract today. The 19-year-old wing led his team, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League with 30 goals this year. He also added 19 assists for 49 points. The 93rd overall pick in this past draft finished with 50 goals in two plus seasons with his OHL team. Kopacka is the second player from his team to sign an NHL deal today as Tampa Bay signed his teammate Boris Katchouk earlier today.
  • Detroit Red Wings Tomas Nosek continues his success in the AHL this year and, according to Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James, is beginning to show that he belongs in the Red Wings lineup next season. The 24-year-old forward scored the overtime goal in the Grand Rapids Griffins Game 1 playoff series against the Milwaukee Admirals and has taken his game up a level from a year ago. Nosek played 11 games for the Red Wings this season, scoring one goal, but since this is his third season in the AHL, he will no longer by waiver exempt, so Detroit may have to look at him more closely.

West Notes: Reddekopp, Keller, Agostino

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The Los Angeles Kings have signed officially signed Chaz Reddekopp to a three-year entry-level deal. The 20-year old seventh-round pick of the Kings in 2015 was set to become a free agent should the team not have gotten him under contract by June 1st. A big defender, Reddekopp had 43 points in a breakout campaign with the Victoria Royals, but still wasn’t shy about dropping the gloves to defend a teammate.

With Reddekopp now signed the Kings have just one player, Matt Schmalz, whose exclusive rights would expire this June should they not get him under contract. After two disappointing years since being drafted, Schmalz may be left to fend for himself this summer.

  • Clayton Keller and Noah Hanifin have been added to the Team USA squad for the upcoming World Championships in Germany. That will make four teams for Keller this year, as he’s suited up for Team USA at the World Juniors, finished his first year at Boston University, signed and played three games with the Arizona Coyotes and will now represent his country once again alongside other NHL stars. The young forward helped lead the Junior squad to gold in January, and will try to take this team to the podium as well.
  • Kenny Agostino has been named the AHL’s Most Valuable Player after an 83 point season. The 24-year old played seven games with the St. Louis Blues, but spent most of his season dominating the lower level with 59 assists in 65 games. Picked by the Penguins in the fifth-round in 2010, Agostino hasn’t made an impact at the NHL level yet and wasn’t even tendered a contract by the Flames last summer—they acquired him in the Jarome Iginla deal of 2013. The Blues signed him to a one-year deal, making him an unrestricted free agent again at season’s end.

Western Prospect Notes: Lagesson, Roslovic, Phillips

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The Edmonton Oilers have signed their fourth-round pick from the 2014 draft, inking William Lagesson to a three-year, entry-level deal. After two seasons at the University of Massechusetts-Amherst, the Swedish defenseman has decided to turn pro. While he’s never been much of an offensive contributor, he was a key part of a blueline and logged tough minutes in the defensive end.

Lagesson was actually the second selection of the draft for the Oilers that year, as they didn’t have their second or third round picks. The first selection? None other than Leon Draisaitl who has already made a big impact in the NHL. While Lagesson will never quite reach those heights, the Oilers are hoping a second member from their 2014 group can reach the NHL level.

  • Jack Roslovic and Eric Comrie are both headed back down to the Manitoba Moose after their NHL debuts on Thursday night. Comrie stopped 34 of 38 shots for his first NHL win, while Roslovic played just over eight minutes and was held scoreless. While the pair will focus on their game at the AHL level for the time being, don’t underestimate the impact they’ll have at the NHL level sooner than later. Both players represent solid prospects in a system full of them, and should be knocking on the door as soon as next season.
  • The Moose have also signed Michael Spacek to an amateur tryout for the remainder of the season after his huge breakout in the WHL. Spacek exploded for 85 points in 59 games and scored another 12 in the Red Deer Rebels’ hard fought series loss at the hands of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He also impressed for the Czech Republic at the World Juniors, his third such tournament for his home country. Spacek is a very interesting prospect for the Jets going into next year, as he’ll turn just 20 years old on Sunday. His offensive game has no ceiling, and he could easily turn into a legitimate scoring threat in the AHL as a rookie next year.
  • The Calgary Flames won’t be left behind, as they’ve also signed an interesting name to an amateur deal. Matthew Phillips—he of the 50 goal season—has signed an ATO with the Stockton Heat and will spend a little time with them before heading back to junior next year. Despite turning 19 yesterday, Phillips still only weighs in at a paltry 151 lbs. It will be extremely difficult for him to succeed at the professional level with his 5’7″ frame, but if anyone can do it perhaps he can. Phillips has scored at every level so far, including a 40 goal campaign in bantam hockey when he was 14—while playing only 33 games.

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