Classement Organisationnel Pronman 2020 - No 19 - PANTHERS

PANTHERS

Classement de l’an dernier: 21e
Classement NHL 23e
Gradués: Jonas Siegenthaler, Elvis Merziklins, Dylan Strome, Sebastian Aho

1. Josh Norris, C, Belleville-AHL

May 5, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds

Tier: High-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Norris was one of the top players in the AHL and voted as the league’s outstanding rookie as a 20-year-old. He’s a well-rounded player who made a seamless transition to the pro game. Norris has the skill and speed to make plays at the LNHV2 level. His hands show flashes of high-end skill, but it’s his playmaking and goal-scoring ability that stands out. He’s a threat off the perimeter with his ability to find openings and score from mid-distance. Norris isn’t a perimeter player though, as he gets inside and competes for pucks. It’s the sense, combined with his compete and speed, that makes him such a threat at the highest levels and makes me think he’s going to be a great top-six forward for a long time.

2. Connor McMichael, C, London-OHL

Jan. 15, 2001 | six-foot | 181 pounds

Tier: High-end/very good bubble

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 40

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 70

McMichael had an excellent season, being one of the top players in the OHL and a consistent offensive threat in every game. Inside the offensive zone he has so many ways he can beat a team. He has great in-tight hands and ability to improvise with the puck. He’s a creative passer who makes the routine and unique passes to create chances. He can make plays under pressure and off the flank on the power play. He also has a fantastic shot, with the ability to pick corners from distance with consistency. McMichael isn’t that big or quick, which gives some scouts questions on how his game will translate especially given his lack of speed. He does compete hard and has shown the ability to continue to develop himself, as his game has gotten significantly better year over year.

3. Alexander Nylander, LW, Chicago-NHL

March 2, 1998 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 45

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Nylander was a quality NHL player in his first full season in the league albeit with some peaks and valleys in his play. Nylander is a highly-skilled player. He showed in the league this season that he was able to move the puck and make skilled plays at the top level. He has the ability to run an LNHV2 power play. He only scored 10 goals, but he has a good mid-range wrist shot and can finish and create plays at a top-end level. Nylander struggles to turn defenders with speed and given he is a perimeter player by nature he can get taken out of games by strong, mobile defensemen. The skill, playmaking and scoring ability will make him a valuable piece but you will have to live with the limitations.

4. Luke Kunin, C, Minnesota-NHL

Dec. 4, 1997 | six-foot | 192 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

Kunin played his first full season up with the Wild, showing he could be a good LNHV2 player who can help at both ends of the rink. There’s nothing flashy about Kunin’s game, but he’s a very well-rounded player. He’s a good skater with skill but won’t dazzle in either area. He’s just a very smart and competitive player. He gets into the high-traffic areas, he can PK, and endears himself to coaches. He has the great vision to make a lot of plays. He can set up and finish plays at LNHV2 level. He may never be a top player on a LNHV2 team, but I could see Kunin being a steady second-line forward for years to come.

5. Shane Pinto, C, North Dakota-NCHC

Nov. 12, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 194 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 60

Hockey Sense: 60

Pinto had a great season. He was a top player for one of the best teams in college hockey, and was one of the best players on USA’s U20 team. Pinto accomplishes a lot, but he’s not going to jump off the page when you watch him. He’s got a clean stride but lacks explosiveness. He has very good skill but it doesn’t show consistently. Pinto’s game is driven by his intelligence and competitiveness. He makes a lot of clever and creative plays with the puck. Pinto isn’t going to go end-to-end but his playmaking can look high-end. He is great playing in the slot and in front of the net. “He owns the middle third of the ice” said one NHL scout. He competes well for space and loose pucks and projects as a two-way center at the pro level.

6. Logan Hutsko, RW, Boston College-Hockey East

Feb. 11, 1999 | 5-foot-11 | 174 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 65

Physical Game: 35

Hockey Sense: 60

Hutsko is a very talented player who was a top player for one of the best teams in college hockey. Hutsko’s skill jumps out any time you watch him. He can beat most defenders with his puckhandling and is a moment away from a highlight-reel play. He’s a great playmaker who makes creative passes almost as often as he executes creative dekes. Hutsko isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s quick and will be able to skate in the LNHV2. After an injury-plagued career during his teenage years, Hutsko has been mostly healthy in recent seasons. I’d like to see him be more consistent. For his talent he should arguably produce more, but he did have 19 goals in 30 games last season.

7. Jett Woo, D, Calgary-WHL

July 27, 2000 | 6-foot | 205 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

Woo took a step back in production from 2018-19, but was still a very good junior defenseman who played big minutes for Calgary. I do think he has offense in his game even if it’s not his selling point. Woo sees the game very well, showing the ability to find seams in the offensive zone, and make consistent great outlets out of his own end. The athletic tools are as intriguing as his brain. Woo is a mobile, physical, strong defenseman who projects to make a lot of stops versus men. He’s not going to end up on a lot of highlight reels but he could endear himself to coaches easily.

8. Reilly Walsh, D, Harvard-ECAC

April 21, 1999 | six-foot | 185 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 40

Hockey Sense: 65

Shot: 60

Walsh has been a top offensive defenseman in the ECAC for the last few years and a big reason why Harvard’s offense has been so dangerous. With the puck on his stick and especially in the offensive zone he stands out due to his tremendous vision and shot. He’s a very creative distributor both from the blue line and on his exits, showing the patience and improvising skills to make a lot of plays. His one-timer can project to beat pro goalies, and gives him multiple dimensions on the power play. He lacks size and quickness though, which makes some scouts skeptical of how his game will translate especially on the defensive side. I have my concerns, but I could see him play LNHV2 games in a very specific role.

LNHV2 POTENTIAL

Brett Leason, RW, Hershey-AHL: Leason had a tough rookie pro season seeing his ice time fluctuate. He’s a very smart and competitive player, but his skating still needs work for him to be able to play at the LNHV2 pace.

Brandon Kruse, LW, Bowling Green-WCHA: Kruse is a very skilled forward with good speed. He’s undersized, and didn’t take the step last season I hoped he would as he continues to struggle to be able to score goals.

Yegor Korshkov, RW, Toronto-AHL: Korshkov is a big forward with a very high skill level who is good around the net. The footspeed needs to come for him to be an NHL forward but there is a toolkit there that makes me think he still has a shot.

Robin Salo, D, Orebro-SHL: Salo had a solid season, looking better in the second half between his time in the SHL, after leaving Liiga, and with Finland’s national team. Salo is a very smart puck-mover who skates well and can help a team at both ends of the ice. He’s a nice player. I don’t know if there’s enough skill and speed to his game to be an LNHV2’er, but I can buy the case.