The Simulation Major Junior Hockey League Draft is right around the corner, and I’m sure you all know as well as I do what that means. In this in-depth analysis, we’re going to be taking a look at the forwards of Season 35’s Draft Class and all of the potential that comes with them. There’s a lot of talent coming out of this class, so expect some glowing analysis. After all, these folks are the next superstars of the SHL, so their talents can not be underestimated.
This year’s pool for Centermen is probably not as deep as many SMJHL teams would like, boasting only four players who can take the draw--but with that small handful of centers comes the expectation of elite skill at this level, and these players have that in spades.
GORD MCKENZIE
Gord McKenzie came into this draft just as everyone expected--with a bang. A Canadian with a lot of heart for the game and a lot of passion for what he does, McKenzie might just be the proto-typical Canadian centerman. McKenzie’s skill with the puck is one of his standout traits; every time the puck finds its way onto his stick, it’s almost a surefire thing that he’ll find the back of the net with it. The kid has mitts like you wouldn’t believe, and it’s the biggest reason his draft stock is so high going into these last few days before it all happens.
His speed is another asset that GMs need to be taking a look at. The kid is quick and it shows, as he finds the optimal places to be to receive passes and take shots. He’s going to trip up goaltenders and his speed gets him to positions where he can do that. Add to all of these offensive traits his clearly heightened vision of the game, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the best forwards in this draft class.
But it isn’t just his offensive ability. McKenzie also retains a great bit of defensive prowess when he’s called on to go to work in his end of the ice. His modest size and deceptive skill enables him to play some of the best shutdown defence of any of the forwards here. One of his biggest issues is his checking and his lack of success in puck battles, but what McKenzie lacks in his physical game, he makes up for in his outstanding versatility across the rest of the ice.
GMs looking for a versatile forward with supreme offensive prowess as well as skill in the defensive end should look no further than Gord McKenzie--but be careful. This kid could very well go top three, perhaps even first overall. Someone to watch, for sure.
ZIV ALEKZANDROV
Alekzandrov is the first American on our list, and it’s no surprise that he’s decided to make his name here in the SHL (or, rather, the SMJHL, but certainly the big leagues later). A moderately sized Centerman, clocking in at 6’1†and 195 pounds, Alekzandrov likely isn’t going to be winning any draws with his physicality alone, but his skill in the faceoff dot is what’s going to play a big role in his abilities and stock for whatever potential GMs are interested.
Beyond his faceoff skill, Alekzandrov’s skill with the puck, in both stick handling as well as in his dishes, are something to look out for. A Playmaker by trade, Alekzandrov is always looking for the best possible passes to make, all while walking the puck into the offensive zone effortlessly. Soft hands are key here, and to say that Alekzandrov doesn’t have soft mitts would be an absolute lie. While he may not be doing all of the scoring, it’s very clear that Alekzandrov will be racking up apples like crazy during his career.
His weaknesses, however, need to be taken into account. While they aren’t the worst of his qualities, Alekzandrov’s less-than-stellar checking and defensive capabilities highlight a potential concern for GMs. Ziv Alekzandrov is not going to be the centerman that you send out to take a defensive zone draw, and for good reason--his physical game and defensive abilities aren’t exactly promising. With work, he could very easily boost his physical game and work out the creases in his defensive game, but until then, GMs may need to take this into account.
GMs looking for a playmaking forward with a great vision of the ice need only look to Alekzandrov. But with that brilliant playmaking ability comes a lack of defense and physicality, so that needs to be taken into account.
ROBERT PHELPS
Robert Phelps, the projected 1OA, is another forward that was highlighted in the Top 16 SMJHL Prospects last week, and for damn good reason. Phelps, a Vancouver boy, is arguably the most skilled Two-Way Forward in the draft, and it shows in both his previous play as well as his combine results and draft stock among league GMs. His skill in both ends of the ice and his playmaking abilities shine brightly against the other centermen in this draft.
As we’ve already said, Phelps has skilled hands and can work the puck incredibly well throughout both ends of play and may be one of the most skilled playmakers for years to come. His skating and speed allow him to walk defenders easily and his vision and passing ability create opportunities every time he’s got possession of the puck. He’s got enough strength to come out of some puck battles with a win and muscle away guys who may be trying to pick his pocket, and his strength works well in tandem with his superior faceoff skill. This is a skilled centerman with a lot of versatility to his game.
Phelps excels in defense as well, something that is, while not required, an incredibly important skillset to have. His ability to run a shutdown role in his own end is invaluable to any team, and that will be one of his best selling points. One of his less powerful areas is his scoring tendencies, which is to say, he isn’t going to be a huge goal scorer. That’s not exactly something to make a huge fuss over, as it can be worked on and it isn’t going to impact his game so badly, but GMs need to look at whether or not they need a centerman who isn’t going to hit the back of the net as often as others might.
GMs looking for a big-bodied two-way centerman with a lot of skill in the dot should be looking to take Robert Phelps. I’m hearing that he will likely be top three--I’ve even heard some rumours about Phelps going first overall--so it’s likely he’ll be gone by the time other teams get a shot at him.
DYLAN PEAT
Dylan Peat, a Finnish-born forward, rounds off our pool of centermen in the upcoming Draft Class and he does it with stellar numbers. Peat’s biggest draw is quite literally his ability to win draws. His faceoff ability is better than any of the other centermen in the draft, and for teams looking to boost their FO%, Peat is looking to be exactly the sort of player that they’ll need. Don’t let his modest size (6’, 195) fool you--Peat can and will be winning draws at the dot whenever he’s called upon to do so.
While his faceoff skill is the biggest draw for GMs, his scoring and puck handling abilities are not to be doubted. Potentially the best scorer on our list as well, Peat consistently receives passes and finds a way to get the puck off his stick and past any netminder in his way. Goalies are going to need to cheat on his shots, and that’s the most dangerous part of Peat’s scoring. He finds a way to get goaltenders off of their balance and get it by them.
His defence is another great aspect of his game. It’s nothing overly special, but he has the ability to play smart defense and eliminate scoring chances if called up. Expect Peat to be taking defensive zone draws to help get his team out of what could potentially be a difficult situation.
Peat’s weaknesses start to show, however, in his physical game. Peat is not built to be winning puck battles in the corners and he certainly won’t be winning any draws based on his strength alone. His size does unfortunately come into play--with a lack of leverage comes a lack of strength in the dot and in the corners. If you want a skilled centerman rather than a heavy one, then Peat is likely the guy, but that lack of strength and presence is a flaw to be well aware of.
GMs looking for a speed and offensively skilled centerman should be looking to take Peat whenever possible. GMs should keep in mind his lack of physicality when thinking of drafting him, however, as it is a flaw that bears mentioning.
There’s always something to be said about a centerman’s wingers. No matter what kind of guy you’ve got taking the draws in the dot, it means nothing if the wingers aren’t anything special. Luckily for our four centermen thus far, the wingers in this draft class might be some of the most special yet. From great two-way players to guys and girls who walk through defenders with ease, there’s a veritable list of playmakers and snipeshows in the making across the group. Our centermen could only get so lucky.
YURI BAKOS-MARKOV - RIGHT WING
Yuri Bakos-Markov, our first Russian, is exactly the type of winger that we highlighted just a moment ago. A sniper by nature, Bakos-Markov has one of the best scoring touches of any of the forwards in the draft class. If the puck has found his stick, then he’s going to be putting in the net--goalies are going to have a tough time against someone with the sort of wicked wrister that Bakos-Markov has.
A good-sized winger, clocking in at 6’2†and 215, Bakos-Markov uses more than his puck handling ability to walk defenders. His strength is one of his key points, and he can use it to both muscle defenders off of the puck as well as get dirty in the corners in fight puck battles. Don’t expect a grinder out of the Russian, but expect him to throw his weight around if need be. His strength lends itself to hard-shot one-timers, taking strong after some other Russian superstars.
Defensively, Bakos-Markov is sound and useable, likely to be a key part in shutting down defenders at the point and being wide open to take breakout passes from his defenders. His defensive ability is a strong point, as he manages to balance being an offensive threat as well as a defensive mainstay--expect to see Bakos-Markov running special teams.
Unfortunately, Bakos-Markov’s weaknesses stem from his checking and passing abilities. Despite his size and strength, Bakos-Markov’s physical play is lacking compared to other wingers in the draft class. Compound that with his distinctly average passing abilities, and you start to get a potential trouble. Bakos-Markov can score, but he isn’t likely to make the same brilliant passes that another winger might be able to pull off.
GMs looking to draft the ideal sniper should be looking to Yuri Bakos-Markov. But do keep in mind the fact that his physical game and passing ability definitely needs some work. Should go early, but we’ll see.
LOUIE GARRETT - RIGHT WING
Seattle native Louie Garrett is a two-way forward worth looking out for. One of the most well-rounded Wingers in the draft class, Garrett boasts both a natural scoring ability as well as sound defensive traits. Much like Bakos-Markov, Garrett’s scoring touch is magnificent. He takes the dish from whoever’s got the puck and finds a way to put it in the back of the net. His skill on his skates allows him to find a way to enter the zone well and get around aggressive defenders without losing control of the puck.
Garrett’s puck handling ability is distinctly average compared to other prospects in this draft class, but it isn’t something to be worried about as of now. Garrett’s defensive ability is a shining one, however, as he boasts the skill of some defenders in the draft--it almost makes the mind wonder why he plays Wing. He can play a shutdown role if he’s needed to cover for a defender that’s too far up in the offensive zone, and he can cover the point accurately and skillfully.
His biggest problem areas seem to lie in his physical game, a very common thread found throughout a number of our forwards this time around. If he can work on his checking and overall strength, Garrett will be a dominant force in the league and a first line winger for years to come. If not, it likely won’t be that much of a determining factor--Garrett is already going to be someone to watch throughout his SMJHL career, regardless of his physical game or not.
GMs looking for the ideal two-way forward should look no further. Watch his physical game, as it could be a potential issue, but keep in mind that his offensive prowess greatly outweighs his physical deficiencies. Likely first rounder.
DAEDRIC HEIKENNIN - LEFT WING
One of the few Finns in this round, Heikennin bears the ever-important title of a playmaker--built for protecting the puck and getting off the perfect dish to a waiting sniper. Teams never have enough guys who can dish the puck from any angle, and what Heikennin lacks in other areas of play, he makes up for in his vision of the game and passing reflexes. After all, goal scorers always love a guy that can get the puck through a crowded lane and onto their tape.
Heikennin’s most notable area of strength are in his passing and speed, as previously said. While we’ve touched on just how good the kid’s vision is, his skating ability is the other piece of the Finnish puzzle. It’s hard to put into words what the kid can do in his zone entries, and for just how long he can do it. Watching forwards walk defenders is something everyone can appreciate--so long as they’re not the defender getting walked. And unfortunately for a lot of defenders in the league, Heikennin will be getting around those defenders with relative ease.
His endurance is strong, and the kid can very likely take a lot of shifts throughout the games. Where he begins to lack, however, is in a lot of the other aspects of his game. Physically, Heikennin isn’t the best forward available, but physicality seems to be lacking in a lot of these forwards. His scoring ability is average, and he isn’t going to be putting the puck into the back of the net that often. His defensive abilities cover just about what he needs to do--Heikennin isn’t going to be covering for your defenders, but he can manage the point okay. At the end of the day, Heikennin is a pure passer, a pure playmaker. Expecting more of out right now isn’t feasible. With work? Yes, Heikennin could be a lot better.
GMs looking for someone who’s skillset revolves around zone entries and beautiful passes should look to Heikennin in the draft. His less-than-stellar areas can all be worked and they need to be taken into account. Likely third rounder.
STERLING SLAUGHTER - LEFT WING
This is a name I’ve been waiting patiently to write about. Sterling Slaughter, the only Japanese native in the draft, is going to be a name you look out for. We’ve covered a lot of smaller skill guys, people who can move the puck and take the shot, but we’ve yet to cover arguably the most important forward archetype in the game. Slaughter is our first Power Forward on the list, and you will know this name by the end of his first season.
Slaughter’s game revolves around pure strength and heavy hitting. Clocking in at 6’4†and 230 pounds, this is a body that you do not want to run into. But you’re going to anyway--Slaughter’s checking and physical play dominate the ice. He’s practically a one-man wrecking crew and good at what he does. Expect him to be out there, clocking your guys and delivering beautiful open ice hits; expect him on the highlight reel.
But he’s not just a big body. Slaughter is deceptively good at scoring goals. Whether he’s standing at the front of the net taking deflections or he’s out there, putting on a snipeshow, Slaughter is going to get the puck in the back of the net. Not much is going to stand in his way of that. Beyond his goal-scoring ability, Slaughter is also going to be stable on defense--expect him to be getting in the way of passes at the point, covering his man well. This is a body that can block shots if need, and expect him to do so at one point or another.
This big forward is not without fault, however. Slaughter’s game starts to weaken in some of the more skilled areas. His puck handling is less-than-average. Don’t expect him to keep the puck on a string. Beyond that, his passing is most definitely average, so he won’t be your playmaker. But these faults come out in the wash, as his game doesn’t really revolve around those areas as heavily as others.
GMs looking for the big body who’s going to run some folks over and get pucks to the back of the net need to draft Sterling Slaughter. Watch his puck handling skills and his passing abilities and try to get work into those. First rounder, without a doubt. An important player in this draft.
SOPHIA BENNETT - RIGHT WING
If you’ve noticed anything about the forwards in this draft class, it’s that we have a lot of skilled, speedy forwards to take notice of. Sophia Bennett stands out as one of the best. A Brandon, Manitoba girl with a wicked wrister and some serious rockets on her skates, Bennett makes a claim for one of the best prospects in the draft (and that’s why she was highlighted in last week’s Top 16 list!. Her game is well-rounded, her skill is way up there, and her likely impact to whatever locker room she winds up in cannot be underestimated.
Like a lot of people here, Bennett is a goal scorer. Another sniper with a wicked shot, she’s going to beat every goalie in the league at least once, mark those words. Her puck handling skills are an important factor in the impact she makes--keeping the puck on a string is difficult and takes a lot of practice, but Bennett does it incredibly naturally, as if she was born dangling around defenders. Her passing is average, but like any good sniper, Bennett can dish the puck if she really needs to.
One of the more defensively sound wingers, expect Bennett to be preventing passes and shots at the point. She has the defensive prowess to be covering for defenders if need be, and her defensive game all around in fairly impressive. Despite her small size, Bennett is tough. She can go into those corners and come out with the puck, albeit not as often as a bigger player might. All-around, she seems like the total package you want in a sniper, and especially in a winger.
She does have her share of issues, however. Like we said, Bennett is an undersized winger, and no matter how tough she is, that size is going to be a factor in her playing ability. At 5’8†and 150 pounds, she can’t really afford to be overly physical. As such, her checking ability is not on par with a lot of other people. If you can get past that lack of physicality, then Bennett presents herself as potentially the best pure scorer in this draft.
GMs looking for a winger with a lot of potential to grow and a lot of skill right now should look to Bennett. Ignoring her size, she is one of the best prospects in this draft. Expect her to be gone in the first round.
ANGELO ODJICK - LEFT WING
The second power forward in this draft, and potentially the most focused physical prospect that these GMs have to evaluate. Angelo Odjick, Vancouver native, is the real deal. Readers already know that I love to write about power forwards, and Odjick is a pure physical player with a scoring touch. Odjick is surprisingly small for someone who makes his impact by making hard hits and getting his body in front of the net. He comes in at 6’1â€, 220 pounds, and is probably going to be the best in his class at making big hits.
His physical play cannot be understated, as his checking abilities and his pure strength are some of the best in the draft class. Much like Sterling Slaughter, Odjick’s abilities and impact are going to stem from his physical play--he will deliver big hits to puck carriers and will win puck battles up against the boards almost every time. That is going to be a huge factor in his draft placement. Teams that need big bodies and physical play are going to look to Odjick.
His scoring ability might not be as high as others, but his size allows him a bit of extra leverage against bigger opponents. Odjick will push guys off of him while he’s carrying the puck, and the force behind his shots is going to give goalies trouble. He’s not the kind of shooter that they’ll need to cheat for, but if they underestimate the speed with which the puck leaves his stick, they aren’t going to make a save on him.
His flaws, like most power forwards, lie in the finesse areas. His passing is average, and his puck handling is far from great. He’s not to going to be walking defenders, he’s going to be pushing his way through them. Beyond that, his defensive abilities are lacking for a forward--he’ll be fine enough covering the point, but he needs to work on his defensive skill if he wants to be a more dominant force in the league for years to come.
GMs looking for a big body? Meet Angelo Odjick. Keep an eye on his finesse play and try and bring that defensive skill up, and you’ve got a real steal on your hands. I’m expecting a second round pick for this kid, but who knows? He has the talent to go first round.
MIKE IZZY - LEFT WING
The third power forward on our list, Mike Izzy is a Whitby, Ontario born left winger with a lot of force behind him and a scoring touch that rivals some playmakers. Coming in at 6’ and 220 pounds, Izzy is a bit smaller than the typical power forward, but with that stature comes different leverage, much like Angelo Odjick. His biggest strengths come in the form of his checking ability and physical play, as well as his inherent scoring ability.
Izzy’s physical play is up to par with that of the other power forwards in his draft class, if not slightly better. He’ll be delivering hits, he’ll be winning puck battles in the corners, and he’ll be offering a physical presence that can’t be found with a smaller, more skillful winger. As any good power forward, Izzy is built to play physical and get down in front of the net to score some greasy goals.
But his scoring ability is not to be underestimated. Izzy has just as powerful a wrister as any of the snipers on this list, and his shots are harder than many players already involved. Blocking shots from this big forward is going to hurt, make no mistake. Goalies will need to be quick in order to catch his shots, and defenders need to know his location on the ice and around the crease if they are to nullify his offensive impact.
The biggest area with which Izzy struggles is his passing ability, something that most definitely needs work. As he’s not necessarily built to be a playmaker, his passes will not always reach their intended target, and Izzy should not be relied on to make any tough passes through traffic. This can be worked on, obviously, but as of right now, it’s nothing special.
GMs looking for power can look to Mike Izzy, who likely won’t be going first round, but potentially second or third. His passing ability is a problem that may need addressing in the future, but for now, it’s something that can be ignored in lieu of his physical talents.
SPITFIRE - RIGHT WING
The Antarctic wonder known only as Spitfire has been making his name known through his excellent abilities as a sniper. As one of the many snipers involved in the draft, Spitfire’s abilities can very likely be deduced through simple knowledge. This right winger is a pure scorer, built for skating the puck into the offensive zone and creating chances with his shot.
His scoring ability is top tier, one of the best in the draft thus far. If he has the puck on his tape, it certainly won’t be for long, and developing a playbook for defending against Spitfire is going to be difficult. He finds a new way to get the puck around defenders and past the goalie every time he enters the offensive zone, and defenders find it hard to try and read what he’s doing. Goalies will need to cheat in order to make stops, and that makes Spitfire an incredible offensive threat.
His puck handling ability is one of the best in the draft class, and it’s something to watch for. Defenders will see the puck in front of them, and by the time they notice that it’s been tossed around them, Spitfire will already be on his way to scoring. On top of that, his defensive abilities are something worth noting, as he’s more than capable of covering for defenders and making good use of his opportunities at the point to help create breakout chances.
His biggest issues lie in his physical play and his passing game. He’s not too tough in the corners and he hasn’t been very reliable making difficult passes, so don’t rely on him to be playing either of those roles for your team. Those can obviously be worked on, and if you’re looking for Spitfire to be making any sorts of passes and not simply receiving them and potting chances then it’s an issue that needs to be taken care of and sorted out immediately.
GMs looking for a pure scoring sniper who can take almost all the chances he’s given and put them in the back of the net should be looking to the Antarctic Wunderkind.
MAURIZIO ARRIVABENE - LEFT WING
Another sniper and the only Italian in the draft, Arrivabene is a very similar talent to the last prospect mentioned, Spitfire. High scoring and incredibly talented on skates, Arrivabene is the sort of skater that’s going to be working his way around defenders to get the puck in the back of the net. His position as a left shooting left winger makes him unique, as he’s at an interesting position to be receiving passes from the left side of the centerman.
His scoring skill and skating ability are some of the best in the league. Immense speed is required to walk some of these incredibly talented young defenders, and Arrivabene has that in spades. Add to that the fact that his shot will beat most goaltenders in the league, and you’ve created an immense offensive threat that will be producing for whatever team drafts for years to come here. His draft stock is at a high point right now, and it’s due entirely to his scoring.
His puck handling ability is among the top in his draft class, and it shows in all of the combine performances that we’ve seen from him. He consistently beats out defenders in the offensive zone and can work the neutral zone to his advantage, speeding past defenders and finding himself open for breakaway chances (all of which he will score on).
His biggest weakness as it stands is his physical game and passing skills. They’re both at a weak point that needs to be addressed post-draft, but considering his relative stock at the moment, it doesn’t seem to be an issue that GMs around the league are considering a relative downside.
GMs look for another pure scorer need to be looking for Arrivabene come draft day. His combine performances have shown all of his skills and he will be exactly what certain teams need. I see this kid going first, second round.
SCOTTY STEELE - RIGHT WING
The last forward on our list, and only the second two-way winger, Scotty Steele may just be the steal of the draft. Like any good two-way winger, Steele’s strengths lie in both ends of the ice, but where he may hold an edge over other prospects is in his sheer skating ability. Steele has some of the best skating skill in the draft and from what everyone watching has seen, it’s practically unparalleled.
His footwork on ice is quick, skillful and impressive to watch. Where others may require effort to successfully walk around defenders, Steele does it with what seems like no effort at all. Defenders may not even see him as he steps around them and drives the puck towards the net, something that he’s incredibly gifted with. His impressive skating alone boosts his draft stock greatly.
Not to be ignored however, are his scoring and defensive abilities. Steele can take the puck and put it in the back of the net from a variety of places on the ice, and combined with his speed, he can very easily find himself open for a long pass leading to a breakaway. In the back end, he’s able to cover for defense with ease as well as cover the point with what feels like minimal effort. This is to be expected, however, as two way forwards with no defensive skill don’t often find themselves this high on draft boards.
His issues lie primarily in his physicality and his passing game. He isn’t the type of forward that’s going to be sending passes in and making difficult dishes through traffic. Similarly, he isn’t the sort of player that’s going to be winning puck battles in the corner or making big hits in open ice. Both of these are overshadowed by his other abilities, but GMs may look to boost these in an attempt to make Steele a more well-rounded player.
Overall, Steele is the player that GMs looking for an offensive-minded but also defensively-capable forward with a lot of speed and skating skill. Second round likely.
And that wraps up our overview of all of the forward prospects that will be involved in the SMJHL Draft. There’s a lot of talent involved in this draft class and GMs are going to have a tough time marking up their draft boards as the honored day approaches. Each of these kids could go at any point, and with a class filled with potential first rounders, we all wait with baited breath to see what GMs make what moves.
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