Login

TheFlash · 04-01-2021, 02:21 PM

x2 Draft Media (944 Words)

The Colorado Raptors have been a real prospect factory of late, churning out some of the SHL's best current prospects in each respective draft class. Currently on their roster, they boast a bevy of talent, from S56 to 58. The current draft class, who will have the honour of being selected this Saturday night, is no different for them. In fact, it may just be their most impressive effort yet. Let's take a look at each of their draft eligible players and see how they faired in their rookie campaigns.

1) Left Defenseman, Angus McFife XVIII (298 TPE)

Height: 6'4
Weight: 222 lbs

McFife tops the list for the Raptors, coming in at number fifteen on the S59 TPE leaderboard and third among defenders. McFife logged some great minutes for Colorado in a season that saw them take the eventual champion Citadelles to seven games (only team to do so Wink

), playing nearly nineteen minutes a night along with a bit of special team action as well. He had a very respectable twenty points on the year, a total made all the more impressive when you see that the team's leading scorer only notched thirty five points. McFife is really your prototypical stud defenseman, and projects as a top pairing defender in the SHL. One thing I'd like to see more from McFife in his sophomore season is a bit more usage of the body. At 6'4, 222 pounds, he's got all of the size to really throw his body around, but his sixty six hits as a rookie just aren't enough. A jump in ice time, with the departure of RESO from Colorado, will likely help him to increase his totals all around.

2) Left Wing, Jack Nishimori (292 TPE)
Height: 6'
Weight: 205 lbs

Coming in just behind McFife at number twenty three on the rankings, Nishimori is one of four Raptors who are within just nine TPE of each other. Nishimori saw time on the Raptors third line this season, with a small taste of special teams play. He put up four goals and seventeen points on the year, and chipped in nicely defensively with thirty two shot blocks. I expect Nishimori to be one of three Raptors taken in the second round. He's got good size and a real knack for playmaking. His stats this season were limited by his just over fourteen minutes of ice time, but expect to see that increase next season as he takes the place of the inactive Sonata Diamante on the teams second line.

3) Left Wing, Fedor Sotakov (291 TPE)

Height: 6'
Weight: 197 lbs

From out behind the Iron Curtain comes maybe the Raptor's most offensively skilled prospect, and most exciting, Fedor Sotakov. Sotakov ranks twenty seventh for S59 prospects but I believe there's a chance his final selection spot is much higher than that. He was given an opportunity to replace Juni Panda on the teams top line, alongside mainstays Josh Dolphin and Jarmo Kekalainen. Sotakov didn't disappoint, putting up twenty nine points on the season, good enough for second among rookies. His 113 shots were number one among all rookies, a clear sign that this guy is just a future goal scoring machine. An old school Russian player, he's all offense. That's really the only knock on his game at this point, he's not a reliable player in his own end. But if there is a team out there that is willing to take the risk, and add an electrifying forward, I believe he could see himself jumping up into the first/early second round.

4) Right Wing, KEKW Kekkonen (289 TPE)
Height: 6'4
Weight: 220 lbs

The last of the Raptor's "big four" prospects (no disrespect to the rest). Kekkonen managed to get into the teams top six last season, and had a really nice rookie year. He potted eleven goals on the year, and had a total of twenty six points. His 108 shots also put him near the top of the league among rookies. Kekkonen could maybe benefit from taking more of a physical role on the team. I'd like to see him add some physicality and be placed in front of the next next season. He could really use that big frame to clean up some rebounds and do the dirty work.

5) Left Wing, Artemius Nystrom (245 TPE)
Height: 6'6
Weight: 235 lbs

Nystrom sits about 40-45 TPE behind his fellow Raptors prospects mentioned above, but he really deserves to be mentioned alongside of them. His lack of TPE compared to his fellow S59'ers is due to the fact that he created over a month later than most of the others in his class. He had a quiet season on the teams fourth line, but looks to be a nice sleeper pick for a team. Remember kids, this thing is a marathon and not a sprint. He's got great speed for his size, and throws his body around too as evidenced by his forty eight hits in just over ten minutes per game of ice time.

6) Center, Reidar Gronkjaer (217 TPE)
Height: 6'2
Weight: 215 lbs

Gronkjaer looked to be a very plus prospect early on but unfortunately hasn't been active on the forums for over a month. He'd likely be around 300 TPE had he stayed active. Longtime member Copenhagen could still return, and as I mentioned previously, marathon. A team could grab him late and keep their fingers crossed that he returns and begins to earn again.

7) Right Wing, Niall Nails (182 TPE)
Height: 6'2
Weight: 195 lbs

Not much to say here. Nails was only an active member for just over two weeks on the site, and hasn't been back online in six weeks. He's a scratch for the Raptors already, didn't suit up this year, and will likely find himself released for a prospect in the upcoming SMJHL draft.