Classement Organisationnel Pronman 2020 - No 17 - BRUINS

BRUINS

Classement de l’an dernier: 12e
Classement NHL: 23e
Gradués: Ilya Samsonov, Zack Werenski

1. Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl-KHL

June 24, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 181 pounds

Tier: High-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 45

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Denisenko has followed a similar pattern in recent years, where he’s just fine with his club team, but fantastic with Russia’s national team. Despite his so-so production he’s a top prospect because of his fantastic toolkit, one that looks like it will translate into making him a top-six LNHV2 forward. He’s a dynamic player due to his great skill, playmaking and skating. He’s not a blazing-fast skater, but he has good speed and great edge work. His edges, combined with his hands, make him very elusive. He make a lot of plays, and can score from mid range. Denisenko isn’t the biggest, but he’s very competitive and doesn’t shy away from the physical aspects. I see a player who has all the tools, has the work ethic, and I’ve seen him get it done many times, but he needs to be more consistent versus men. Gaining strength will likely help a lot in that regard.

2. Philip Broberg, D, Skelleftea-SHL

June 25, 2001 | 6-foot-3 | 203 pounds

Tier: High-end/very good bubble

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 60

Hockey Sense: 55

Broberg’s evaluation is a tough one. His role with Skelleftea was limited. He didn’t put up many points in the SHL or the world juniors where he was just fine. NHL scouts have strong opinions about him in both directions. I watch him though and you see the talent jump out at you. He’s this 6-foot-3 defenseman who is a tremendous skater and has legit offensive skill. His puck-rushing skills are exceptional because of how quickly he can turn the puck up ice. He has the hands to dangle opponents, and can make a good first pass. His puck-moving skills are not great. He can be a bit risky with the puck and his transition is more from his rushes than passes but he can move it. Because of his mobility and wingspan, he projects to be a very solid defender who impacts possession with his stops and rushes.

3. Raphael Lavoie, RW, Chicoutimi-QMJHL

Sept. 25, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 198 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 45

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 65

Hockey Sense: 55

Shot: 60

Lavoie had a strong season being a leading point and shot generator in the QMJHL. His size and skill stand out immediately when you watch Lavoie. He has the ability to dangle defensemen easily with his large wingspan and make plays. He’s not that quick so he struggles to make a lot of cute plays off the rush but he has the skill to break open a shift. Lavoie isn’t a true top playmaker, but he can move the puck well. His shot is more of a weapon, as he’s a legit mid-range threat. I wouldn’t call him a physical force, but he uses his size to protect pucks well, and I thought he showed improvements off the puck last season, earning large responsibilities in Chicoutimi and Halifax.

4. Matias Maccelli, LW, Ilves-Liiga

Oct. 14, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 165 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 40

Hockey Sense: 60

Maccelli was the top rookie in Finland’s top league, was one of the best players for Finland’s U20 team and held his own in an appearance for the national team. Maccelli is a very skilled player. He can beat defenders one-on-one at the pro level. He’s also a very smart playmaker who can create chances at the LNHV2 level with his vision. He has both the patience and ability to move pucks with pace that allow him to be a great creator off the edge. Maccelli surprised some scouts with how quickly he transitioned to the pro level, showing the ability to win battles despite his size, even if that’s not his strong suit. He still has some skeptics due to his average footspeed, which will be his main challenge for the LNHV2, but he’s shown the ability to go to quicker paces and remain effective.

5. Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C, Moncton-QMJHL

Feb. 6, 2000 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Groulx was a very good player at the Q level and a late cut from Canada’s U20 team. He’s not a player who is going to “wow” you with skill and flashy offensive plays. He’s been a productive scorer in the QMJHL because he’s a very smart offensive player with a very good shot. I don’t know if the vision is high-end enough to make a lot of the same kind of plays he made in junior in the pros when the speed will quicken, but it’s good enough to play in the league. He competes well, and could be a reliable two-way center versus men. His skill and speed don’t stand up, and ideally he gets another step but his work ethic could compensate.

6. Graeme Clarke, RW, Ottawa-OHL

April 24, 2001 | six-foot | 174 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 35

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Clarke had a short season, playing only 16 games after injuring his shoulder in October and coming back late in the season. In those few games I thought he looked very impressive. I saw a player who made a lot of skilled, intelligent plays, and helped drive play when he was on the ice. Clarke’s best offensive attribute is his great wrist shot, which can score versus LNHV2 goalies at mid-range, but he makes a lot of clever passes too. Clarke is not the quickest player though, and given his size, injury history and somewhat of a perimeter style, some NHL scouts have hesitations on his projection to the pros. I think there’s too much talent there, but rounding out his game and improving his production would make his case more convincing.

LNHV2 POTENTIAL

Jeremy Davies, D, Milwaukee-AHL: I like Davies because of his tremendous hockey sense. He sees things on the ice that many other high IQ types don’t. He’s an undersized defender with mediocre skating ability though and it limits him defensively.

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW, Kelowna-WHL: Hamaliuk took a step back last season, although a mono diagnosis likely didn’t help. He’s a big forward who plays a powerful style and has soft hands, but lacks speed and playmaking.

Tyler Benson, LW, Bakersfield-AHL: Benson is a very intelligent playmaker with a high skill level who can pick apart defenses on a power play. His skating remains a concern though, and while he makes a lot of plays he has trouble finishing them.

Boris Katchouk, LW, Syracuse-AHL: Katchouk helped both of Syracuse’s special units last season, showing good skill, playmaking ability, hustle and ability to play around the net. His skating is questionable for the LNHV2 level.

Axel Andersson, D, Moncton-QMJHL: Andersson is a mobile two-way defenseman who was part of the Ondrej Kase trade. He has some offensive instincts but there is a bit of an upside question with him for the LNHV2 level.

Nathan Smith, C, Minnesota State-WCHA: Smith is an intriguing prospect due to his tremendous stick skills. He has work to do in terms of improving his footspeed and in general playing faster with the puck.

Henri Nikkanen, C, Jukurit-Jr. A. Liiga: Nikkanen is a great playmaker with size down the middle, but his skating will need to take a significant jump for him to be able to play at the higher levels.

Alexander Daryin, LW, Yaroslavl-MHL: Daryin is a very skilled player with good speed and great work. He can score goals from a distance. I don’t know how well he sees it and he’s undersized and he’ll need to get it done outside the MHL at some point, but the toolkit is very intriguing.

Arttu Ruotsalainen, C, Ilves-Liiga: Ruotsalainen was a top scorer in Liiga and an important player for a top team. He’s a highly-skilled and intelligent player who can make high-end plays and has a good shot. He’s very small though and while he skates well he lacks the true top quickness you want in a small player.

Linus Karlsson, RW, Karlskoga-Allsvenskan: Karlsson is a highly-skilled forward who can make plays with his vision and hands. His quickness still needs work, but he had a successful season versus men in Sweden’s second-tier as a 20-year-old.

Gilles Senn, G, Binghamton-AHL: Senn has a great toolkit as a 6-foot-5 goaltender who moves very well. In Europe I thought his game had a ton of extra movement and his reads needed work. He showed progress in those areas in North America even if they’re still not strengths. He looks like an LNHV2 goalie, but he’s never stopped pucks at a high level as he enters his age-24 season.

Lias Andersson, C, HV71-SHL: Andersson is a highly-intelligent and competitive player who can play in the hard areas and create offense in those hard areas. He’s not that big though and lacks clear LNHV2 quality speed and skill.