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KlusteR · 11-17-2019, 12:41 PM

(3234 words – Draft Week 2x Bonus, Research, and all that jazz)

Hello everyone! It's everyone's favourite draft analyst, KlusteR, at it once again for the S51 SMJHL Draft Power Rankings, coming into this weekend's selection! There are a few very interesting pieces in play for teams in the first round, with some potential hidden gems in the latter rounds, so today, I bring you the Top 20 Prospects to watch out for on Sunday.

(Warning : these rankings are in no way scientific, and only reflect the arbitrary weighing of pros and cons by this column's writer. This should not be considered when making your Mock Draft. You have been warned.)

1. Velveteen Dream – C – Dreamland

He hails from your dreams – literally. The smooth as butter, sweet as honey, Purple People Eater named Velveteen Dream is a hockey coach's fantasy. He drives play like I've rarely seen at the midget level, controlling zone entries like a champion, especially for a center. His passing is crisp and very accurate, and he's got a solid shot to boot. The moment your team has the puck with Dream on the ice, you're in for some treat. And if you lose possession of the puck – so what? He can play very well on both sides of the ice, often retrieving a puck he may have lost himself. He's built like a truck, and chugs along like one. The only concern, coming into the draft, is the fact that he's still struggling in the faceoff dot - but if that's your only concern... You can consider Velveteen a surefire first round pick, and I'm personally seeing him go first overall. He's that good.

2. Simothy Drunkebird – C – Czechia

It is very rare that you will see a defensive monster like Drunkebird so high in the Draft Rankings, but I have no choice but to consider him the second hottest prospect coming into this draft. You're looking at a very small but extremely burly center, who's play in the faceoff dot and in the defensive zone are the stuff of dreams for a head coach looking for their next shutdown line pilot. His offensive play could use a bit of help, but that's what the SMJHL is here for – helping players round out their game. You can see he controls the puck very well in entry, but the finishing product, including the last pass or his shots on goal, needs a bit more refining. Nonetheless, you can expect some solid outings from the young Czech, and any team would be lucky to have him.

3. Oscar Cordeiro – RW – Cuba

Closing out the Draft Ranking podium comes Oscar Cordeiro, a product from a country not renowned for their ice hockey prowess, Cuba. But don't discount Cordeiro so swiftly – he's a very apt hockey player. This is a chunky piece of a man, who uses his powerful frame to establish himself in prime scoring positions. While he's not the guy you're looking for to pick up the puck in his zone and carry it 200 feet into the opposing net, Cordeiro is a fluid skater, and has a laser of a snap shot. He's also one of the best young players I've seen this season in takeaways in his own zone, helping his team keep possession of the puck more often than not. He's the perfect finisher for a line looking for both responsible defensive play and explosive offensive play. I'd like to see him use his body on the fore check a bit more, though.

4. Sabo Tage – D – Canada

Our first defenseman in the Draft Ranking is what you could consider a “gentle giant”. He's a very tall young man, but he won't bruise and batter you in his own zone – but he will break your ankles with finesse and puck control. And once he's done, he'll then smoothly get out of the zone flying – his skating is sincerely out of this world for a kid his age. His breakout pass is decent, but where Tage really starts to shine is when he uses his rocket of a slap shot, especially on the power play. He's got a knack for putting the puck bar down on unexpecting goalies. He's a very slender guy at the moment, and I feel like the moment he'll put on some muscle on his foundation, he'll be a force to be reckoned with.

5. SLATT Potts – RW – USA

This diminutive winger from Atlanta has no quit. His engine is always revving at 100%, and this helps him create space for himself and his line mates in the offensive zone. And whether he's the one handling the puck, or the one receiving the pass, you can guarantee something exciting is coming up. Potts has a flair for the net, and great vision to boot – a lethal combination that can only get better. And you know what the best part is? He's far from a liability in his own zone, retrieving a lot of pucks with his speed and active stick. Seeing as he's a bit on the skinny side, he does tend to get brushed aside when the play becomes more physical, but if you give him an inch, he'll take that mile - flying.

6. Oleg Igorevich Burov – G – Russia

The first netminder to make this list, and ladies and gentlemen, he's a good one. He's one of two standout Russian goaltenders available in this draft (more on this later), but Burov's technical abilities put him ahead of his fellow countryman. His glove is lightning quick, his blocker all the same, and he's got that lateral quickness that will make SMJHL coaches wonder how he's able to stop their best offensive talents. He's quick, agile, and has great rebound control for his age. However, he is downright dreadful when trying to get out of his net to play the puck, may it be with his feet or with his stick. In today's game, you want your goalie to act as a rover and help the defensive recovery of the puck, and unfortunately, Burov doesn't provide this aspect in his game. He still has time to iron out this glaring weakness, and the rest of his game will compensate for it.

7. Stirling McTavish – C – Great Britain

Another center ranking pretty highly is Stirling McTavish, a fairly small but feisty player. McTavish is a very good faceoff taker, and an even better puck distributor. His cross-seam passes are like poetry in motion, and he uses the back of the net very well to direct play in the offensive zone. And when the opponent inevitably tries to disturb him physically, he will hold his own and protect the puck very well. He's also responsible defensively, which makes him an asset in all phases of the game. The one thing I'd like to see him develop is his shooting, which is abysmal compared to the rest of his offensive game. All around, a very interesting prospect for teams looking to round out their top 6.

8. Olli Saarinen Jr. - G – Finland

Another very technical goaltender, and this one comes to us from Finland. Saarinen's game is all technique. His reflexes are amazing, his glove side is near unbeatable, he pushes laterally very well – he's got all the fundamentals down to a tee. While he could control his rebounds a bit better, the technical abilities that I listed previously more than make up for it. However, he seems to be a menace to himself whenever he's asked to get out of his net to play the puck (a recurring theme for goaltenders in this draft, it seems.) He trips over himself, and seeing as he shoots on the reverse of his strong side, his passes are often errant. It's definitely something to work on – but in limited play in the SMJHL, he can develop this aspect of his game, no problem.

9. Morgan Forestier – C – Canada

The young Québécois probably has the best all-around game out of all the centers I have listed so far. He does so many little things well. Need a faceoff win? Forestier's got you. Puck entry? Yep. Passing? He's got that too. He's open in the slot? He'll make the goaltender work hard for his money. The puck's going the other way? He'll break up the rush with his anticipation. And not only can he do most things with or without the puck, he's strong and hard to push off of possession. The only caveat, and a big reason why he isn't as high on the list as the first three centers, is the fact that he still is struggling in the skating category. It sometimes feels like he has a piano strapped to his back. Once he works on this aspect of his play, he'll be near unstoppable.

10. Riszard Franciszek – D – Poland

Closing the top 10 of the Draft Ranking is the first of the Polish quintuplets from the Franciszek family, Riszard. While all five of them have a good chance of being selected in the SMJHL Draft, I see Riszard as the most ready out of them. He's an absolute Hulk of a man on the blue line, but he's not as physical as you would expect a 6' 6” defenseman to be. He's got great poise in the defensive end, using his deceitfully quick hands to get out of a bind, may it be by stickhandling the puck or lifting an opponent's stick. And while he may not be as keen offensively as Sabo Tage, he still has a bomb of a slapshot, which is somewhat to be expected coming from such a big young man. He's got no real weakness to his game, but I'd definitely want to see him use his body more to separate attackers from the puck.

11. Samat Beibitzhanov – G – Russia

The third and final goalie on my list is not as technically gifted as the previous two, but what he lacks in technique, he makes up for in pure physical prowess. Beibitzhanov is a relatively small goaltender, but he plays large and in charge. He's very agile in his net, and his lateral movements are very decent. Even if he's a bit slower on his reflexes, he can still hold his own against the better attacking players on the opposition, and his rebound control is more than decent. He's also the most apt at playing the puck from behind his net, allowing his team to break out of the defensive zone cleanly and efficiently. A team that has a strong technical coach for their goalies will see that they may have stumbled upon a diamond in the rough.

12. Cal Labovitch – RW – Switzerland

The only Swiss on my list (I'm a bit disappointed, but such is life) is the playmaking winger, Cal Labovitch. He's got silky smooth mitts, and he uses them to their fullest. He will deke the jockstraps out of the defenseman watching him, and then deliver a crisp, pinpoint pass to his line mate. He's very quick on the ice, which definitely helps him in zone entries and creating odd-man rushes. He could use a bit more of a finishing touch when shooting himself, but he's got a fairly accurate shot. However, he's not the most responsible defensively, and he also tends to run out of gas quickly on the ice. He needs to improve these facets of his game in the SMJHL.

13. Trey Nets – C – USA

The young American can be better described as an offensive dynamo. He's got the killer's touch in the offensive zone, may it be by finding the perfect pass, or firing his deadly, accurate shot on net. And when he's getting checked too tightly by a defender, he can use his arsenal of swift moves to lose them and drive the net. There are a few blemishes in his game, and the most glaring ones are in the faceoff dot, and in his own zone – making him a complete liability in the defensive end. But with so much offensive upside, it would be tough for him not to find a team that will overlook those issues and work with him to develop his two-way play, while keeping that lethality in the opponent's zone.

14. Mega Tron – RW – Austria

The Austrian sniper comes in at number 14 with blistering speed and a shot that will make your jaw unhinge and stick to the floor for days. Tron has one of the best set of hands in this draft class, and he will make you pay if you give him any kind of space in the offensive zone. His quick feet also allow him to backcheck very efficiently, which makes him an interesting asset to put on your top 6. Beware, however, that you may be frustrated with his inability to make passes, which often means the play will live and die with him. He's also not the surest guy on his skates, and can be bodied out of possession pretty easily. These lapses can always be worked on in the SMJHL, but they are the reason he slips in our Draft Ranking.

15. Theo Golury – LW – Austria

The second Austrian winger on this list is not built with the same frame as Mega Tron, but is still very efficient on the attack. He's sneaky, and has a way to find himself at the right place, at the right time – and he uses those opportunities very well. He has a good vision that allows him to find the open man on the offense, and when he needs to shoot, his snap shot is devastating. He's also the kind of player that will play with intensity throughout the game, and can really come into his own in the 3rd period, when the opposing team is getting tired. Aside from his physicality, he's got no real weaknesses to speak of, and looks to be a very good middle-6 player, that can sometimes help on the first line, if need be.

16. Jeffrey Santiago – RW – USA

The pocket-sized winger does most things right, but nothing extraordinarily well. He's a well-rounded forward that will give you maximum effort every shift, but don't expect razzle-dazzle from him, as you may be thoroughly disappointed. He's got good hands, but not the quickest. He's got good speed, but not the greatest acceleration. He can shoot the puck well, but his accuracy needs some work. He hustles in the defensive zone, but is prone to some mental lapses. In that way, he's the perfect middle-6 winger. Hopefully he can garner some real strengths coming into the S52 SHL draft.

17. Adam Scianna – D – Norway

Another all-around player, Scianna is a player with no glaring weaknesses, but no real strengths either, apart from the fact that he can play 25 to 30 minutes a night at the same level. He's extremely consistent in that way – what you see is what you get, may it be in the first minute of the first period, or in overtime. His play in his own zone is decent, and he's got a mean streak to him when he goes to lay down the body, but he's prone to losing his man if they're too quick. He's also got decent speed, and can help the offence fairly well, but once again – nothing spectacular. For teams looking to shore out their bottom 4, he's a good asset to have, and he could always polish some of his strengths.

18. Blake Faux – D – N/A

Faux is the definition of a “net front sweeper”. While maybe not as big as other defenseman in this draft, he can absolutely crush bodies, and has a very good control on his stick, breaking up opportunities in the slot on the regular. And for a guy that plays so physical, it's actually rarer than you'd think that he gets taken to the box. However, don't expect him to jump in and help the rush – he's more than content on letting the play get ahead of him and stick to the blue line. And for a young man that can distribute the body checks so well, it's a bit shocking how little he can receive them, at times. He's got a few kinks to iron out, but he could develop into a solid stay-at-home defenseman.

19. Simon Moreau – D – Canada

The second Québécois in this list, Moreau is a very agile two-way defenseman, who's body strength and poise with the puck are a sight to behold. He can manoeuvre efficiently with the puck in close quarters, and offers quality breakout passes to exit his own end. He's not the most physical guy on the ice, but he can defend very well using his stick and his positioning. A few points of contention have made him slip down this Draft Ranking. One – he's usually out of gas in the tank come the third period, which can turn him into a liability. Two – he seems very aloof, seemingly preferring chirping to concentrating on his own game. I'm hoping he proves me wrong and has a solid career in the SMJHL.

20. Jebany Franciszek – D – Poland

The second Franciszek brother slots in to close up the Draft Rankings – and in an interesting coincidence, that is also what he's known to do on the ice. A defenseman like his borther, Jebany is more known for his ability to shut down plays in his own end, using his body efficiently to shield the puck from his opponents and get a good angle for a crisp breakout pass. While not flashy, his defensive game is very well rounded. However, for a stay-at-home defenseman, I feel like he could make his presence felt even more around the net or in the corners, as he tends to shy away from the body checks. But he's a steady defenseman, and he could turn into something special with the right amount of training.

Honorable Mention : Cyril Vyskoc – C – Czechia

Vyskoc would most probably be third in my list if he was available for Sunday's draft, but unfortunately for the nine other SMJHL teams, he has already let teams know that he will not report to any team but the Anchorage Armada. “The Boats” will be very happy to see him solidify their roster in the upcoming season, as they fell short to the eventual Four-Star Cup champions, the Carolina Kraken, in the semi-finals last season. With centers Primeau, Bischoff and van der Heijden already in their roster, Vyskoc will add another element to Anchorage's center depth. He will have to work on his faceoff ability to really come into his own in the SMJHL, but his offensive and defensive game are very well developed.