Classement Organisationnel Pronman 2020 - No 11 - SABRES

SABRES

Classement de l’an dernier: 19e
Classement NHL: 8e
Gradués: Mikko Rantanen

1. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Columbus-NHL

June 24, 1998 | 6-foot-3 | 207 pounds

Tier: Elite/High-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 60

Hockey Sense: 60

Dubois has been very productive in his first three years in the league, and has emerged as a first-line center for the Blue Jackets and a top young player in the league. Dubois isn’t a very flashy player who will land on a lot of highlights. He’s very smart though, moving the puck into good spots with pace and showing the vision to find seams in the offensive zone and help an LNHV2 power play. He’s a highly-competitive player, who is strong on pucks and doesn’t mind getting his nose dirty in the high-traffic areas, scoring a lot of goals around the crease. His skill pops at a high level every now and then, but his hands and speed are not the selling point of his game, as he can get stopped by mobile defensemen with the same level of physicality. The skill set doesn’t resemble a lot of top players, but the combination of his brain and work ethic gets him to that level.

2. Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey-NHL

Jan. 4, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 174 pounds

Tier: Elite/high-end bubble

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 65

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

Hischier had his third productive NHL season, repeating the scoring rates he had in his first two seasons. Hischier has a lot of elements in his game. He’s extremely skilled, showing the ability to beat LNHV2 defenders one-on-one and break a shift open with his skill. He’s a very good passer, who has the patience and vision to make plays at the top level and drive play. Hischier is a good skater. I wouldn’t call him explosive, but he moves well and makes plays at an LNHV2 speed. He competes well off the puck, showing the ability to win battles, and play in the tough areas. Is he going to live up to the hype of his draft slot? I still wouldn’t rule it out, but it seems unlikely as I wouldn’t call him a gamebreaker. Is he an awesome player who can be a legit top of the lineup option though? Absolutely.

3. Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers-NHL

Feb. 17, 1998 | 5-foot-11 | 181 pounds

Tier: High-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 30

Hockey Sense: 70

Fox was one of the best rookies in the NHL last season, being a top-20 defenseman in scoring in the league. With the puck on his stick, Fox distinguishes himself. He’s an elite puck-mover, displaying exceptional poise and intelligence. He walks the line very well and makes so many plays under pressure due to his elite brain and how well he sees the ice. He also has the great stick skills to get himself out of trouble even without great top-end speed. His skating is good in terms of his edges and elusiveness, but he lacks rink-length quickness. That lack of quickness and his 5-foot-11 frame leads to him not being the best defensively. He breaks up plays due to how well he anticipates the game but he lacks the ability to kill rushes like a defenseman I would typically rate in this range.

4. Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton-OHL

June 26, 2001 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds

Tier: High-end/very good bubble

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 55

Hockey Sense: 65

Shot: 70

Kaliyev had his second straight great season in the OHL with a full-season pace of 52 goals and 117 points, but there’s a lot Kaliyev doesn’t do that well. He’s not an LNHV2-quality speedster. He’s big, but he’s not overly physical and although he penalty killed for Hamilton, that’s not his projected role as a big leaguer. The two things he does exceptionally well, though, is moving the puck, and scoring goals. Kaliyev has an elite shot, showing the ability to ring bars from a long way away due to a very hard and accurate shot. He’s so dangerous inside the offensive zone due to that shot, but also how creative and skilled a passer he is. He finds seams at a high rate, shows great touch with the puck and sees lanes others don’t. Kaliyev will need help getting the puck into the zone due to the lack of speed but once there he will make a lot of LNHV2 caliber plays.

5. Ryan Merkley, D, London-OHL

Aug. 14, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 176 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 35

Hockey Sense: 70

Merkley was one of the top defensemen in the OHL, leading defenders in assists for the second straight season. His playmaking is exceptional. He has a unique ability to hold pucks and find backdoor options to hit teammate’s sticks from the point and to make tough exits. He also has a high skill level and can break open games with his puckhandling. Merkley skates well. He’s not a burner, but it’s good quickness combined with his skill and elite vision that makes him a truly dangerous offensive weapon. He has the ability to run a PP1 in the LNHV2. Merkley is undersized though, and while he made progress defensively, frequently killing penalties for London, his defensive game is not what gets you excited about him and his effort in that aspect can come and go.

6. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, Bridgeport-AHL

June 13, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 187 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 45

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Wahlstrom had a good 19-year-old season after a rocky freshman campaign at Boston College. He had a strong camp with the Islanders, looked promising for a teenager in the AHL, generating a ton of shots for a young player, and had a fine albeit unspectacular world juniors. Inside the offensive zone Wahlstrom is dangerous. He has great hands, and is always a second away from undressing an opponent with his skill. He is a shooter who can score from range with a hard, accurate shot. He can pick corners, but also passes the puck very well, and this makes him a great power-play weapon. Wahlstrom’s compete level has been a point of concern over the years, but I thought he was much more consistent in that respect last season. His skating still isn’t great, as he can struggle to make his skill plays at the quicker paces.

7. Dante Fabbro, D, Nashville-NHL

June 20, 1998 | six-foot | 190 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 45

Hockey Sense: 60

Fabbro had a successful first NHL season playing significant minutes and making spot appearances on both special teams for Nashville. Fabbro is a very good player but he doesn’t stand out in a typical way a top player does. He’s not that big, he skates fine but not super quick and he’s not full of offensive skill. Fabbro’s value comes from how smart and efficient a puck-mover he is. He gets the puck in the D-zone, his head is up looking to make a play, and he usually makes the right one whether under pressure or if he takes a second. His great sense allows him to defend well too despite not being that quick or having a long wingspan. Fabbro earns the trust of his coach wherever he goes.

8. Ilya Konovalov, G, Yaroslavl-KHL

July 13, 1998 | 5-foot-11 | 196 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Athleticism: 60
Hockey Sense: 65

Konovalov’s numbers were down from two seasons ago when he was drafted, but when I watched him I still saw a lot of the things I liked in his draft season. His hockey sense is tremendous. He never looks rattled in the net, moving with the puck seamlessly and always seems square with the play. He’s so efficient in how he moves around the crease. Konovalov is quick — it’s not elite quickness for a 5-foot-11 goalie, but he’s quick and it never seems like he has to make a dive across the net. He will need to cut down on some of the long-range goals I saw go in on him, probably a byproduct of his size.

9. Anttoni Honka, D, JYP-Liiga

Oct. 5, 2000 | 5-foot-10 | 179 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 30

Hockey Sense: 60

Honka was a solid player in Liiga and a top defenseman for Finland’s U20 team. With the puck on his stick, his talent is evident. Honka is a very slick puckhandler. His passing is excellent, showing great poise and creativity from the offensive blue line and he makes a ton of great outlets. He’s not extremely fast, but he’s quick and elusive, showing great edges and ability to control possession with his skating and skill. Honka’s main downside is his defensive play. He has a tough time defending size and speed, and can at times be too risky with the puck in his own end.

LNHV2 POTENTIAL

Zachary Emond, G, Rouyn-Noranda-QMJHL: Emond was amazing in 2019, saving 93 percent of shots on goal and winning all but one game. This past season wasn’t as stellar, but I still see a 6-foot-3 goalie with great sense and tracking ability. But he isn’t that quick laterally.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, Rochester-AHL: Luukkonen was good in the ECHL as a rookie pro, and in the AHL he was so-so when he was recalled. He was coming off a fantastic 2018-19 between the OHL and world juniors where he was the MVP of the OHL. I like his 6-foot-4 frame and his ability to read the play. I thought the speed of the pro level was an adjustment for him. He has good but not great quickness and saves that required him to move a lot I thought challenged him at the higher levels.