Count on the surprising.
That was the chorus at this yr’s NHL scouting mix in regards to the upcoming draft. Whereas a gaggle of 90 potential NHLers have been put by way of their paces with interviews, dinners and health testing, scouts and executives alike marveled at what may very well be an unpredictable first spherical when it comes down to creating picks on June 27 and 28.
“There are possibly 16 or 18 gamers I might see going within the prime 10,” one scout mentioned. “It is a kind of lessons. Deep. Nice character guys. Numerous these gamers have distinctive ability units. Groups can have powerful choices to make.”
One other govt pointed on the market’s an “embarrassment of riches” on the ahead positions for golf equipment with excessive picks. So, whereas Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer could appear like a consensus No. 1 general choice for the New York Islanders, what occurs from there?
Intrigue!
“The inner conversations have been heated,” the manager joked.
One title that got here up lots as a possible wild card? Carter Bear.
The Everett Silvertips ahead didn’t take part within the mix’s health testing after struggling an Achilles tendon harm in March, however he expects to be absolutely wholesome when NHL coaching camps start within the fall. Bear was tied for seventh in WHL scoring with 40 objectives and 82 factors by way of 65 video games final season, and ranks tenth on the NHL Central Scouting ultimate listing of North American skaters and thirteenth general on ESPN analyst Rachel Doerrie’s newest large board.
If there have been to be a jumper, although, Bear could be the man. Regardless of not having the ability to undergo your complete mix course of, his physique of labor so far on the ice has clearly drawn critical consideration from a number of golf equipment.
We have seen groups get artistic in recent times — Juraj Slafkovsky going first general to Montreal in 2022 involves thoughts — and there may very well be one other stunning first spherical awaiting us all in June. Till then, here is the information and notes from mix week.
Eklund, Frondell the perfect of (aggressive) buddies
Victor Eklund wouldn’t be denied.
He was going to play on a line with teammate Anton Frondell. And their coach, Robert Kimby, at Djurgardens IF would not get a second’s peace till it occurred.
“I feel I informed him like 10 occasions,” Eklund mentioned. “He was like, ‘yeah, yeah, yeah.’ However then lastly, we did get to [play together].”
The alignment of two prime prospects within the upcoming NHL draft had been years within the making, actually. Eklund — who had 19 objectives and 31 factors in 42 video games final season — and Frondell — 11 objectives and 25 factors in 29 video games — began taking part in towards one another as youngsters of their native Sweden, which is when Eklund first skilled simply how proficient Frondell was with the puck.
“After we have been 10 years outdated, I keep in mind taking part in him, and he truly made a transfer on me,” Eklund recalled. “Like, [he put] the puck between my legs, and I simply cannot neglect that. He says he does not keep in mind that, however I form of know. However we have been taking part in towards one another, however we actually acquired to know one another when each of us began taking part in for [our team].”
Frondell confessed he did truly keep in mind deking Eklund again within the day (“it was actually good,” he laughed) and shared what he appreciated essentially the most about attending to share a line.
“Victor is simple to play with. I do not assume I’ve performed with somebody with a lot vitality,” Frondell mentioned. “He wins each battle, even once we play towards males. Victor wins all of the puck battles, and it is simply simple for me discovering him in an open spot, and a lot of the occasions I get the puck proper on the tape. So it is simple for me too, and we like taking part in with one another.”
Eklund was effusive in his reward of Frondell to elucidate why he dogged their coach so incessantly about lastly pairing them up in January.
“Anton, he is a tank on the ice,” Eklund mentioned. “He has a shot like a missile. He is only a actually nice, nice participant. I simply knew from the start that if we get the chance, we’ll take it and we’ll be the perfect and I feel we did fairly good.
And, yeah, the coach in all probability acquired sick of me asking so that they [had to] lastly put us collectively.”
Michael Misa staying put
Michael Misa discovered the arduous manner how persistence is a advantage.
The Saginaw Spirit ahead anticipated to be a middle within the OHL. However the Spirit have been so deep down the center when he entered the league two years in the past that Misa was thrust onto the wing as a substitute. He excelled there, and it helped construct a basis for the place he is at now — with the potential to be a top-two choice within the draft.
However Misa was actually simply biding his time till the prospect to slip again into a middle spot offered itself.
It lastly did for Misa’s draft yr — and he pumped in 62 objectives and 134 factors in 65 video games to guide the OHL in scoring.
Suffice to say, Misa is not keen to alter positions once more any time quickly.
“Rising up in minor hockey, I used to be all the time primarily a middle,” Misa mentioned. “My first two years [in the OHL], we had a variety of good facilities who have been loads older. So I needed to make that soar to wing. However coming again to this yr, it is what I deliberate to do for my draft yr was return to heart and finally, I simply really feel much more assured down the center. That is primarily the place my roots are at.”
Having the ability to dominate on the heart spot has given Misa a lift going into the draft, the place he is projected to be among the many first gamers taken off the board. And whoever selects Misa is getting a skater who is ready to swimsuit up instantly within the NHL.
“I really feel like I’m able to make that soar subsequent yr,” Misa mentioned. “That is finally my objective, to make the NHL subsequent yr. I feel gaining that heart expertise that I had this yr undoubtedly helped my recreation. And I am simply attempting to develop into that extra dependable 200-foot participant defensively as properly. So general, I’m prepared.”
Misa mentioned being at heart permits him to be extra “concerned” within the play. ‘It isn’t simply offensively, however defensively, being dependable,” he mentioned. “It has been good for me … acquired much more puck touches, simply carrying the play on my stick.”
Will Horcoff units scouting mix report
When an NHL crew requested College of Michigan ahead Will Horcoff what animal he can be off the ice, he answered a silverback gorilla.
Based mostly on his horizontal soar on the mix, Horcoff could be higher related to the impala. As a result of identical to an antelope, Horcoff can clear unimaginable distances in a single sure — his 124.75-inch mark set a brand new mix report, a feat he skilled arduous to attain.
“I knew I had an opportunity to do it coming in,” mentioned Horcoff, who’s earlier greatest soar was 122 inches. “It was simply whether or not I executed it. And I did. I am completely satisfied about it.”
Horcoff — the son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff — was centered on his horizontal strikes but in addition wished to indicate properly within the vertical class. However his technique needed to change.
“It was slightly bizarre; I jumped increased with my fingers on my hips than I did with my arms,” Horcoff mentioned. “I do not know, at U-18 Worlds, I jumped 4 and a half inches increased than I did right here. So I do not know what occurred there.”
The 6-foot-4, 181-pound heart added — maybe unnecessarily — that “I am a aggressive man” so the discrepancy in his figures was perplexing. Nonetheless, Horcoff was happy general with how his work paid off in entrance of NHL scouts and executives from the 31 groups he met with all through the mix week.
“I feel I may very well be a talented energy ahead within the NHL,” Horcoff mentioned. “I might like to play like [Ottawa Senators forward] Brady Tkachuk. That [mean streak] is one thing I’ve added this season, and I feel I’ll proceed doing it extra persistently subsequent season.”
Oh, and why the gorilla decide?
“He is a frontrunner,” Horcoff mentioned. “And he protects his household.”
Gamers compelled to confront their previous errors
The aim of a mix is to place your greatest foot ahead.
However that does not preclude some missteps from the previous from reappearing.
Such was the case in sure crew interviews, the place execs requested prospects to interrupt down footage of themselves from the season. And the movies chosen weren’t precisely constructive.
“Pittsburgh did that,” Moose Jaw Warriors ahead Lynden Lakovic mentioned. “They did not present my highlights, they in all probability confirmed my low lights, however requested me to interrupt that down. It was good. I believed I dealt with it properly. They weren’t my biggest clips, however I am conscious of that, and I believed I broke it down fairly properly.”
Carlos Handel was equally caught off guard by seeing his poor performs again entrance and heart in the course of the meet and greets.
“Carolina did that,” the Halifax Mooseheads defenseman mentioned. “They confirmed me some unhealthy clips, and wished, for instance, how I react [to it], but in addition they wished to know the way my coach, for instance, needs me to assault there and what my opinion about that [play] was.”
If nothing else, these interviews stored prospects on their toes all through the week.
“Many of the [talks] have been enjoyable,” Lakovic mentioned. “However there have been a pair ones that have been slightly bit extra intimidating.”
Can Nashville do all of it?
The Nashville Predators didn’t anticipate being a lottery crew. However, the best-laid plans typically go awry.
Nashville ended up ending the season with a measly 30-44-8 report — however the lottery delivered the No. 5 general decide, simply one of many three picks they’ve within the first spherical. And there’s expertise to select from that would probably instantly assist the Predators.
Boston School’s James Hagens, Frondell, or Brantford’s Jake O’Brien might all be there on the fifth slot to bolster Nashville down the center, and every has the potential crack an NHL lineup prior to later. Brampton winger Porter Martone would even be a strong match for Nashville.
The Predators signed Steven Stamkos in free company final summer season, and he can be a superb mentor to any younger participant getting into the league as properly.
Talking of Stamkos, the Predators did not deliver him on board for a rebuild. They are going to need to be again within the playoff combine subsequent season. How they finally make the most of the twenty third general decide (acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning) and the twenty sixth decide (from the Vegas Golden Knights) will inform us lots about what’s to come back this season from the Predators.
