Classement Organisationnel Pronman 2020 - No 3 - MAPLE LEAFS

MAPLE LEAFS

Classement de l’an dernier: 10e
Classement NHL: 2e
Gradués: Jack Eichel

1. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Calgary-NHL

Dec. 11, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 203 pounds

Tier: Special/elite bubble

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 65

Physical Game: 60

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Tkachuk is one of the best young players in the NHL, emerging as a true star in the league the last two seasons. Tkachuk is an extremely skilled player. He makes highly-creative plays with the puck routinely, with the one-on-one ability to beat some of the better LNHV2 defensemen. He’s a high-end playmaker and shooter. He makes creative passes at the top level and can find seams well. Tkachuk also has the shot to beat LNHV2 goalies from mid-distance. He’s strong on pucks and in front of the net and can very effectively get under opponents’ skin. The only hole in Tkachuk’s game is his average quickness and lack of ability to pull away from checks.

2. Samuel Girard, D, Colorado-NHL

May 12, 1998 | 5-foot-10 | 161 pounds

Tier: High-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 65

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 30

Hockey Sense: 60

Girard has developed into a very good top-four defenseman in the NHL and was on a 40-point pace before play was suspended. He’s a fantastic skater. His straight-line speed is very good, but it’s his elite edgework that makes him stand out. His ability to spin off checks, to walk and spin off the offensive blue line and fake checkers out with his feet and skill gives him a lot of value. Girard is very skilled, and makes a lot of great plays to his teammates. He is a creative passer in the offensive zone and makes great D-zone outlets. He’s small, not overly physical and even though he’s a great skater who closes gaps well his defense is not what makes you excited about him.

3. Alex DeBrincat, RW, Chicago-NHL

Dec. 18, 1997 | 5-foot-7 | 165 pounds

Tier: High-end LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 20

Hockey Sense: 65

Shot: 70

DeBrincat had a down year after his 40-goal season in 2018-19. He remains a great player and you could argue he was unlucky in 2019-20. He has a very quick stick and can make skilled plays through defenders. His shot is elite, with the ability to pick corners and hit iron from long range. He’s a big-time goal-scorer, but sees the ice very well and is able to make plays through seams. He’s a strong, elusive skater but DeBrincat does lack true explosiveness which is concerning at his 5-foot-7 frame. He competes well, but isn’t an interior player, as he gets a lot of his shots and chances from the slot and mid-range. His true value in my mind lies between the last two seasons.

4. Henri Jokiharju, D, Buffalo-NHL

June 17, 1999 | six-foot | 192 pounds

Tier: High-end/very good bubble

Skating: 55

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 45

Hockey Sense: 65

Jokiharju’s second NHL season and first with Buffalo was solid, staying up with the big club all season and playing regular minutes. Jokiharju isn’t a spectacular player but he does a lot well. He’s mobile, he has skill and he’s a very smart puck-mover. His outlets are excellent and he shows great poise with the puck. He makes a lot of tough plays under pressure. Even though he’s not the biggest, he can hold his own defensively due to his mobility and brain and killed penalties for the Sabres. I have a question on whether his offensive upside is all that exciting, but he’s always found a way to produce over the years and earn the trust of coaches.

5. Philip Tomasino, C, Oshawa-OHL

July 28, 2001 | six-foot | 181 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 60

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 45

Hockey Sense: 60

Tomasino was one of the top players in the OHL last season and took off especially following a trade from Niagara to Oshawa. He’s an exciting player to watch who is full of talent. Tomasino’s high-end speed and skill make him very dangerous off the rush. He can push the pace and make skilled plays at full speed, traits that will translate to the LNHV2. He can play a fast-paced game, but is also a great playmaker who can hold pucks and find seams in the defense. His playmaking is his strength, but I appreciated his shot and goal-scoring more last season and his ability to finish in close. Tomasino doesn’t have a big, bulky frame so against physical players he can struggle a bit but I thought his consistency in his effort was better than a year ago.

6. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Edmonton-NHL

Sept. 29, 1998 | 5-foot-8 | 159 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 65

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 30

Hockey Sense: 60

Yamamoto is an interesting evaluation case. His 34 points in 50 AHL games doesn’t reflect the amount of talent he brings to the table. But I would argue his 26 points in 27 NHL games last season arguably overstates it too, with the answer being somewhere in the middle. Yamamoto brings a lot of speed and energy to shifts. He’s 5-foot-8, but he doesn’t shy from physical contact, being hard on pucks and winning battles. He shows no fear of going to the middle-third of the offensive zone to create offense. Yamamoto has quick hands and makes a lot of plays. I wouldn’t call him a “gamebreaker” with his skill but he’s a very crafty passer who creates a lot of offense. He’s versatile and a competitor, which endears him to coaches.

7. Mathias Emilio Pettersen, C, Denver-NCHC

April 3, 2000 | 5-foot-10 | 187 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating:65

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 30

Hockey Sense: 65

Pettersen was one of the better forwards in the NCHC and a big reason for why Denver was a top-10 team. The main reason I can attribute to why the sixth-round pick is a top prospect is the jump in his skating. In junior it looked good, not great but in college he looked among the quicker players on the ice. His edgework is excellent and his first few steps are very good. He often pressured defenders with speed. Pettersen’s playmaking is also excellent. He’s a very creative player with the puck who makes high-end plays at pace and displays a great skill level. His shot is good but he’s more of a pass-first guy. He’s undersized, a bit perimeter at times and not great defensively, but the offense makes up for the shortcomings.

8. Evan Bouchard, D, Bakersfield-AHL

Oct. 20, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 194 pounds

Tier: Very good LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 55

Hockey Sense: 65

Shot: 60

Bouchard had a solid rookie pro season, starting off a bit slow and picking up more responsibility as the season went on. Bouchard is a tremendous puck-mover. He has slick stick skills, but it’s his great vision and poise with the puck that drives a lot of his offense and makes him a positive possession player. Inside the offensive zone he can pick defenses apart with his playmaking, but also has a great shot that can beat pro goalies from range. Bouchard’s skating is decent, but it’s not a selling point. Given he’s not that fast or a physical defender, the defensive aspects of the game were an adjustment for him in the AHL. That was the case in junior too but that picked up with time and it’s possible it will at the higher levels as well.

9. Alexander Chmelevski, C, San Jose-AHL

June 9, 1999 | six-foot | 187 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 40

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Chmelevski had a fine rookie pro season, scoring at a reasonable rate and showing he could create offense versus men. When he has the puck on his stick he’s a very dangerous player. Chmelevski has the slick skill to beat defenders one-on-one, and make plays off the rush with his skill and vision. He’s a weapon on the power play due to his ability to score from mid-range, and make tough passes consistently. Chmelevki fell to the later rounds because of his size and skating, and his effort comes and goes at times. The physical aspects of the game was an adjustment for him at the pro level, but I think he’s so talented and intelligent that he will find a way to make it once he adjusts to playing versus men.

10. Yakov Trenin, LW, Nashville-NHL

Jan. 13, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 201 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 55

Hockey Sense: 55

Trenin was one of the top players in the AHL as a third-year pro, earning a lengthy amount of time in Nashville in a limited role. He’s appealing because of his skill and power. He’s a big, strong forward who can bully his way into winning puck battles, but also has the soft hands to put pucks through defenders feet and create chances. Trenin’s main issue has always been that his feet are heavy. His skating, I think, is good enough to play in the LNHV2, but it will challenge him to stay up at that level. I see offense in his game, but he won’t be a primary driver or playmaker on an LNHV2 line, rather someone who does a lot of the dirty work and chips in some offense.

11. Egor Afanasyev, LW, Windsor-OHL

Jan. 23, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 201 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 45

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 60

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Afanasyev had a fine first OHL season, with good stretches but he wasn’t a top player in the league. Afanasyev’s toolkit is exciting as a 6-foot-4 forward with high-end puck skills and a fantastic shot. Even without eye-popping numbers I think he’s a strong LNHV2 prospect. He’s dangerous in the offensive zone due to his bullet shot as well as his ability to find seams and create chances for his teammates. His skating needs work, though, and I’d like to see him attack the inside parts of the offensive zone more. I think the latter would help him be more consistent in how he generates offense.

12. Joachim Blichfeld, RW, San Jose-AHL

July 17, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 187 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 55

Hockey Sense: 60

Shot: 60

Blichfeld had a strong rookie pro season, being named an All-Star in the AHL after a very hot first half, although he slowed down a bit in the second half. Blichfeld is dangerous inside the offensive zone, due to his ability to make plays and finish them at a high-end level. He has the patience and vision to hit seams and make plays with pace as well. He has a very good wrist shot and one-timer. He can pick corners from a distance and bad angles. Blichfeld’s main hindrance is his average footspeed. He will struggle to pressure defenders off the rush or escape pressure. He does have a big frame and doesn’t shy away from attacking the net with that frame.

13. Tyce Thompson, RW, Providence-Hockey East

July 12, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 172 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 60

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 55

Shot: 60

Thompson was one of the top forwards in college as a sophomore. Thompson’s toolkit jumps out when you see his size and skill. He can stickhandle very well in tight areas, showing the skill to make highlight-reel plays and displaying a high level of creativity with the puck. Thompson moves the puck fine, but he’s more of a shooter than a passer and can score from mid-range. He competes well, and killed penalties for Providence. His footspeed isn’t the best but given his skill and productivity I see a player who is on an LNHV2 trajectory.

14. Vladislav Firstov, LW, Connecticut-Hockey East

June 19, 2001 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds

Tier: Legit LNHV2 player

Skating: 50

Puck Skills: 55

Physical Game: 50

Hockey Sense: 60

Firstov had a solid freshman season at UConn. I wouldn’t say he blew you away with his performances, but he was one of the better freshmen in the conference. He also had a very strong summer camp with Russia’s U20 team where he was one of their top players. Firstov is a very good passer and goal-scorer whose offensive IQ stands out whenever I watch him. He can make plays under pressure and run a power play. He competes well and can play in tough areas. He needs an extra step in his skating, ideally, to be a dangerous NHL player.

LNHV2 POTENTIAL

Taylor Raddysh, RW, Syracuse-AHL: Raddysh is a highly intelligent and competitive winger who can score goals. His footspeed remains a question for the LNHV2 level.

Alexei Toropchenko, RW, San Antonio-AHL: Toropchenko has the aesthetics of a player. He’s 6-foot-3, can skate and has good hands, but it’s hard to get past the nine-point season in the AHL, and I think his decision-making can be suspect.

Lukas Parik, G, Spokane-WHL: Parik had a solid first season in North America. He’s a 6-foot-4 goalie with great puck-tracking ability and overall sense. He moves fine but it’s not top-end quickness.

Danila Zhuravlyov, D, Kazan-KHL: Zhuravlyov is interesting as a mobile defenseman with very good hockey sense. He hasn’t put up big numbers anywhere, but he plays on a deep Kazan team and the Russian U20 blue line was strong as well.

Adam Brooks, C, Toronto-AHL: Brooks is a very smart and competitive two-way forward. He has fine speed and puck skills, for a smaller forward those elements aren’t as high-end as you’d like, but they’re good enough to be relevant as a prospect.