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Top-20 des meilleurs espoirs
CAPITALS DE WASHINGTON
Analyses de Scott Wheeler de The Athletic.
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| 1- William Eklund Centre / Ailier Gauche 19 ans 5'10 181 lbs Repêché 2ie au total en 2021 par Washington.  |
" This has been a bit of a weird developmental year for Eklund (again). Last year it was a bout with COVID-19 and an appendectomy. This year it’s been a lack of continuity between his first NHL games with the Sharks, a late return to the SHL, and a two-game stint at the world juniors before they were cancelled. And while I’ve liked what I’ve seen of him across all three levels (he looked like he belonged in the NHL, he’s playing big minutes in the SHL, and was impressive in the short-lived world juniors), I wouldn’t say he has taken a huge step forward in his development either. Eklund’s a well-rounded three-zone player who can do a little bit of everything offensively (he’s strong and agile below the goal line, he’s a capable transporter, and he’s a plus-level finisher, handler and passer) and defensively (he supports the play well, takes smart routes to pucks and pinches along the wall, and engages effectively in battles to win more than you might expect from a 5-foot-11 teenager). Eklund’s biggest strength, though, is the way he navigates on the ice. He slides in and out of space to get open for his shot (a shot which has improved to make him a real mid-range threat, even though it hasn’t been going in thus far this year) and play the give-and-go game effectively. He also makes a lot of small-area plays around the net to attack the slot or play a puck into it, with proper timing, for a teammate. He’s just a clever problem-solver who knows his game and how to play within himself to make something happen from shift to shift. I have little doubt that he’ll be a second-line forward in the NHL. His floor is high that way. Whether he can be a first-line forward is the question. With the right development and the continued honing of his craft, I don’t think it’s out of the question. But it’s not a sure thing either. " | ||
| 2- Simon Edvinsson Défenseur 18 ans 6'5 207 lbs Repêché 5ie au total en 2021 par Washington.  |
" This has been a very positive development year for Edvinsson. He’s averaging 20 minutes a game (and has often pushed 23-24) in his first full season at the SHL level, he looked like a force in the short-lived world juniors, and the areas of his game that needed (and need) some cleaning up are getting it. His ceiling is extremely high and backed by a unique set of traits and skills for a 6-foot-5 player (let alone defenceman), including his exceptional hands and control of the puck, his fearlessness with and without, and his strong foundational knowledge of how to use his towering frame to defend in a variety of ways (with an active stick, with step-up physicality when opportunities present themselves, on box-outs, etc.). If he can develop his shot (one of those areas that still needs work), continue to smooth out his game, and make better choices (which he’s doing), the potential is there in spades. This season he has shown more inside the offensive zone, making play-ending passes and creating a ton of chance (he should actually have a couple more goals under his belt) to add to his already-dominant transition game as a confident carrier and transporter. I hate the cliche but you really can’t teach hands like his at that size. He tries things, he usually pulls them off, and he’s more comfortable handling the puck under pressure than just about any teenage defenceman I’ve scouted (regardless of size). I think he’s also found greater control of his gangly frame (he’s a good skater and always has been but his stride can splay from the knees). He’s going to be a lot of fun to watch with his take-charge mentality and if he can continue to put it all together the sky’s the limit. " | ||
| 3- Fedor Svechkov Centre / Ailier Gauche 18 ans 6'0 187 lbs Repêché 21ie au total en 2021 par Washington. |
" Svechkov has had a good — but shy of great — developmental year thus far. He didn’t look out of place in the KHL in September, he torched the MHL for three multi-point games in four games in November, and he has looked the part of a top player in the second-tier VHL, where his age adjusted numbers reflect where he was drafted. And while he still hasn’t developed his scoring touch or skating (his stride extends back through his toes, hunching him over his skates, instead of back and out through the archest of his feet) enough to elevate his projection from potential NHL centre to potential impact one, his defensive prowess and intelligent, efficient offensive game make him a very intriguing prospect. He’s a very complete hockey play, with a knack for disrupting and lifting pucks, sound positioning, and an understanding of how to support the play and lead it in the right direction. He stays available for his linemates and involved through the neutral zone without needing to be fast. He does a good job creating separation with his go-to stop-up to force defenders off of him and allow him to attack back into the space they’ve left behind. He has managed to produce at a consistently high level against his peers despite lacking that high-end quality that most first-round forwards possess. And he’s able to do that for some of the same reasons he’s so effective without the puck: A lot of quick, smart plays with a good understanding of spacing. I don’t want this to position him as unskilled, either. He’s capable of carrying the puck and making plays in the offensive zone. But the real strength of his game is in its details. " | ||
| 4- Aatu Raty Centre 19 ans 6'2 185 lbs Repêché 44ie au total en 2021 par Washington.  |
" If you followed my draft coverage last year, you’ll know that I didn’t give up on Raty — and that I was surprised not that he fell but that he fell as far as he did, knowing what we know about what went wrong for him with Kärpät. When things continued to not work with Kärpät this year after he’d had a dominant summer and fall with his peers on the under-20 Finnish national team, the loan to Jukurit began to make a lot of sense. Not because the relationship was an issue, but just because the fit clearly wasn’t there. Then he looked, immediately, more like himself with Jukurit, rattling off four points, a plus-four rating, and nine shots on goal in his first two games with his new club. It’s clear that confidence plays a big role in Raty’s play. When he has it, he hangs onto the puck more, uses his size and quick hands to attack the middle of the ice, keeps his feet moving to work to get pucks back, and shoots to score with a release that pops off of his blade. When he doesn’t, he gets rid of the puck too quickly, you can begin to notice the kinks in his skating when he gets himself standing still and has to play catch-up, and it’s obvious that he’s not smart enough to drive a line by himself or make plays when he’s less involved. But on the whole, and with the right development, I still believe in his middle-six upside (and certainly in his value as a 52nd overall pick). " | ||
| 5- Samuel Fagemo Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit 21 ans 5'11 190 lbs Repêché 34ie au total en 2019 par Washington.  |
" From a tools perspective, Fagemo has a ton of skills that pop in isolation. His release is ridiculous, deceiving goalies inside the offensive zone. He’s got an incredible feel for the puck when it’s on his stick, which helps him pull dekes through feet and under sticks on attacking lines. He’s a plus-level skater (both quick and strong), though I wouldn’t say that element is quite as impressive as his shot or his hands. But there are also times when it feels like his approach is working against some of those skills. He can play a little too much for himself, placing too much focus on individual creation and the net at the expense of his peripherals. He needs linemates who can get him the puck because he’s not all that physically engaged himself. And I don’t think he’s going to be a line driver at the next level as a result, probably topping out as a complementary middle-six scorer who can score 20-plus goals, carve up coverage every once in a while, and give a power-play unit another threat. It will be interesting to see what they do with him and Kaliyev on the man advantage long-term (do they separate them or play them together, and who is going to manage them out there and get them the best looks). " | ||
| 6- Helge Grans Défenseur 19 ans 6'3 205 lbs Repêché 37ie au total en 2020 par Washington.  |
" The appeal of Grans has, in the past, been anchored in the legitimacy of his individual tools more than the sum of his parts. This season, though, he has really begun to put the pieces together (both in the AHL, where I’ve been impressed in all of my viewings, and briefly with Team Sweden). He’s a 6-foot-3, right-shot defenceman who is both mobile and talented. He’s comfortable with the puck. He has great hands for his size. He’s a superb passer on outlets and through offensive-zone lanes. And he’s at his best when he’s playing an aggressive style and taking risks to make things happen. There’s still some rawness to his even-strength play and he can look a little stilted on his pivots, but his game has started to take form and despite having played parts of four seasons at two top pro levels, he’s just still just 19. Grans has the potential to be a top-four defenceman with significant two-way value. There’s a balance to be struck with his mistakes and some of that just comes with continued reps. I hope they encourage him to play a highly involved game, because that’s when his tools really shine. I’d rather see him looking to make things happen than playing passively. " | ||
| 7- Egor Afanasyev Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit / Centre 20 ans 6'3 203 lbs Repêché 41ie au total en 2019 par Minnesota.  |
" Afanasyev’s had a solid first season in the AHL, establishing himself as a top-nine guy in Milwaukee and contributing regularly with his size-skill-finesse combo. He’s got uncharacteristic feel with the puck for a 6-foot-4 player, he’s got deceptive hands, he’s a soft passer, he can threaten off the rush, and the development of his skating over the years has helped him impact the game more through neutral ice than is typical out of a forward as big as he is. I also like his commitment and ability to lift pucks defensively. I think he’ll be a complementary NHLer. " | ||
| 8- Liam Dower Nilsson Centre 18 ans 6'0 172 lbs Repêché 85ie au total en 2021 par Washington. |
" There are a lot of pro qualities in Dower Nilsson’s game. He’s hard on pucks, he forechecks diligently to apply pressure, force turnovers and jump into gaps to intercept pucks. And then when he has the puck, his ability to quickly identify targets and correctly read the offensive zone is a strength of his game. I do worry because his skill isn’t particularly dynamic that he ends up on a role-player trajectory but he makes a lot of plays against his peers at the J20 level, he’s got good hands, and he’s got B-grade skill all over. And while I’d like him to chase hits a little less, that’s part of his identity and there’s no denying he’s a competitor. There might be a third-line player there in time. Here’s Sjostrom: “He’s got a high hockey IQ, smartness, good hands, he’s excellent on the power play, which is a little tough to get that time with us here but we can see it in juniors and with the national team that he’s got such a good vision and smartness. I like him a lot.” " |
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| 9- Veeti Miettinen Ailier Droit 20 ans 5'9 159 lbs Repêché 101ie au total en 2020 par Washington.  |
" After a standout season as a freshman won him the NCHC’s rookie of the year award, Miettinen’s sophomore campaign has played to about the same level without taking a big step forward. And while that would probably make this ranking look a little generous in a consensus list among scouts, I’ve stuck my neck out for Miettinen repeatedly and I still think he’s got gifts that the prospects who follow him on this list don’t. He’s got a lethal shot that he can release quickly and powerfully off of either foot, a strong statistical track record, a knack for creating moments in games, the hard-working disposition that defines many Finnish players, good one-on-one skill and imagination, and silky repeatable moves (including a backhand-forehand shot that he likes). His 5-foot-9 frame and average foot speed are definitely factors but every prospect in this kind of tier has warts of some kind and they don’t rip the curl and drag or catch-and-release like he does (which should always give him power play upside and doesn’t even mention the comfort he has in his strong, low-leverage one-timer). And while he doesn’t have explosiveness in his straight pushes, I like the way he builds speed through his crossovers and he does a great job playing through or around defenders with things like a little self-pass under the triangle of a defender’s stick to himself. His shooting percentage, which was 14 percent last year and has nearly been cut in half this year, won’t stay low forever either. " | ||
| 10- Dylan Duke Centre 19 ans 5'10 181 lbs Repêché 69ie au total en 2021 par Washington.  |
" One of my favourites from the 2021 draft, Duke’s a short but stocky winger with a nose for the net who has impressed me in a fourth-line role as a freshman with the stacked Wolverines this season. He plays bigger than his size, stays on top of pucks when he’s being leaned on, and always seems to get open off of the puck (I actually think he’s owed more pucks in the back of the net this year). He also goes to the net a whole lot for his size and is great on tips there (including, believe it or not, in that role on the PP). There remain mixed opinions on how his game will translate, though, with a good many scouts questioning his footspeed. I think his game is rounded enough to emerge from his college career, earn an NHL contract, and give it a good go, though. He plays a hard, tenacious 200-foot game, he loves to drive the crease and make plays into bodies, he regularly outmuscles bigger opponents (which he’ll insist is actually a strength of his if you ever ask him) and he’s got quick hands and a wrist shot that can cleanly beat goalies from mid-range. If he can improve upon his acceleration, he might make a good middle-six winger at the next level. " | ||
| 11- Dmitri Ovchinnikov Centre / Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit 19 ans 5'11 163 lbs Repêché 84ie au total en 2020 par Washington.  |
" Ovchinnikov has produced at or near the top of his age-adjusted bracket in the MHL in three different seasons/at three different ages now. But that play hasn’t resulted in any attention from the national team (he wasn’t even considered for Team Russia at the world juniors) and has so far garnered him very little ice-time in the KHL (his average ice time with Novosibirsk’s top club is just over 5 minutes a night). The actual player is an interesting one though, both because of his late-August birthday and what it means for his development on the ice but also physically (where he’s behind) and also for his skill set. He’s an entertaining, high-motor player who carves up coverage, creates in bursts between battles, and capitalizes on his opportunities with equal part talent and effort. I also like him on the penalty kill, where he regularly pounces on sleeping power plays and can create offence going the other way. " |
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| 12- Roby Jarventie Ailier Gauche 19 ans 6'3 205 lbs Repêché 27ie au total en 2020 par Washington.  |
" One of my favourites in the Senators’ pool, Jarventie just turned 19 in August and already has an established track record as a first-line forward in the second-tier Mestis and a top-nine forward in both Liiga and the AHL. Despite his productivity this season in his first full year in the AHL, he’s also been the victim of some bad puck luck and is probably owed another few goals (which checks out in terms of his low shooting percentage and some of the chances I’ve seen him create that just haven’t gone in). The strength of Jarventie’s game has typically been his ability to play through contact and leverage his big (6-foot-3), strong frame in puck protection to get to his spots offensively. But improvements to his acceleration and a more refined game on the perimeter have helped fuel his progression. He’s got a nifty release for a bigger player and the power you’d expect (it’s not explosive but he can finish around the slot). He handles the puck with comfort and confidence. He has added a bit of a gear to his stride and doesn’t look quite as stilted as he used to. And his game has softened to match his finesse with his size-strength package. If he can continue to improve in those areas, he’ll be an effective complementary contributor at the NHL level. " | ||
| 13- Adam Ruzicka Centre 22 ans 6'4 203 lbs Signé à titre d'agent libre en 2021 par Washington.  |
" Ruzicka’s probably the player on this list that the average Flames fan is most familiar with, given his NHL cup of coffees and how long he has been around. He’ll graduate out of my criteria for a prospect when he turns 23 in May, too, so this will be his last time on this list regardless of whether he makes the jump to full-timer sometime in 2022. Ruzicka’s a unique forward prospect in the context of the rest of the Flames’ pool. He’s a 6-foot-4, 220-pound forward who, despite that size, doesn’t play the power forward, physical, imposing style that you might expect. He’ll leverage his length in puck protection and play to the front of the net but he’s also got surprising soft-area skill, an expectedly hard shot, and good intuition off the rush. More than anything, though, he has eliminated some of the inconsistency that often left scouts wanting more in his junior days. And in doing so, he has established himself as a top AHL producer who is on the cups of making the full-time jump to the NHL. If injuries don’t open up a greater NHL opportunity at some point this season, I’d look to re-sign him as an RFA this summer and give him a real look next year because he won’t likely sneak through waivers with his coveted size. " | ||
| 14- Michal Teply Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit 20 ans 6'3 187 lbs Repêché 82ie au total en 2019 par Washington.  |
" Teply’s had a tough go of it in Rockford after sporadically showing real promise as a teenager. He’s a kid who doesn’t get the most out of the sum of his parts and I’ve struggled to pinpoint why. He’s a rangy winger with an NHL shot and playmaking instincts that I’ve seen flash. There’s deception to his game when he’s playing confidently and getting touches, too. But he doesn’t leverage his 6-foot-3 frame all that well, his skating has never found an extra gear, he has struggled to find ways to get off the perimeter to use his shot from between the dots, and he needs to become more than a player who is a threat to score between the dots. " | ||
| 15- Ty Smilanic Centre 19 ans 6'1 174 lbs Repêché 68ie au total en 2020 par Washington. |
" After an impressive freshman year with the Bobcats, Smilanic has been equally impactful as a sophomore without taking a pronounced step forward. He’s got great north-south speed, he stays on top of pucks on the forecheck, he protects the puck both out wide and in tight to his body beautifully, and he’s got a scorer’s touch around the net because of his timing and aggression. He’s an attack mentality player who goes at defenders head on and plays hard. I like the way he applies back and forward pressure, I like him in transition, I like his release, and I like his approach. He’s already a very good college player and I suspect he’ll be a very good AHL one if he gets signed out of Quinnipiac. But the question with Smilanic has always been whether his well-rounded game will be enough to make it beyond the AHL. I think with the right development, he’s got complementary NHL upside. But he slots into the area of an organization’s depth chart where you’re not expecting every kid to hit but one from every handful at each position. If one of Noel, Smilanic and Schwindt (more on him in a moment) can become a top-12 forward for you who plays a few hundred NHL games, that’s a success. " | ||
| 16- Zayde Wisdom Centre 19 ans 5'10 201 lbs Repêché 78ie au total en 2020 par Washington.  |
" Wisdom hasn’t quite looked himself since returning to the OHL after his shoulder surgery, but that Kingston team has run hot and cold, he joined them during a spell of the latter, and I fully expect him to dominate into the playoffs with them as he finds his game again. Like McClennon, I also thought he impressed in Calgary this summer before the injury (he was feasting on battle drills in practice and was consistent shift to shift in the games). Wisdom plays a hard, physical, forechecking style that is complemented by good all-around skill. His biggest asset is his ability to lean on players, finish all of his checks and win 50/50 battles to regain possession in puck pursuit. But he’s also talented enough to then take pucks off the boards and make plays to the front of the net. Mix in a hard shot, sneaky-quick hands, and decent speed and you’ve got an interesting package as a heavy-on-the-puck complementary player. Nobody wants to give or take a bump from him to fight for possession when he plays against his peers, so he can hold onto the puck and push into space with relative ease at the OHL level. His playmaking has also come a long way so that he’s regularly hitting tough holes in coverage (through feet, under sticks) as a passer. His skill isn’t dynamic, so he probably tops out as a third-line player at his ceiling, but he’s got all of the makings of a contributing checking forward who gives a line some punch. " | ||
| 17- Blake Biondi Centre 19 ans 6'0 192 lbs Repêché 128ie au total en 2020 par Washington. |
" Biondi’s freshman year was always going to be a bit of a trial period in a depth role at the UMD after he made the jump from high school hockey (where he was Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey as the state’s top player) to college hockey as a true freshman without a ton of prior experience at in the USHL. But after not looking out of place on the Bulldogs’ fourth line last year, it also felt like he’d be given an opportunity to really run with the strength-skill combo he has as a freshman. And that’s exactly what he’s done. On a UMD team that graduated almost all of its top players last season, he has filled the void, becoming the team’s leading scorer. He’s using his power and skill to attack the middle, play with some more pace, and manufacture offence on his own terms. With continued progress, he might be a good bottom-six option after he graduates. " | ||
| 18- Brett Leason Ailier Droit 22 ans 6'5 225 lbs Repêché 50ie au total en 2019 par Washington.  |
" After turning himself into one of the stories of the draft in 2018-19, Leason’s two and a half years in the AHL (and this year, at times, in the NHL) have been a mixed bag in terms of production. But whenever I’ve watched him, I haven’t felt like his play was a mixed bag. Even when the points haven’t fallen, he has looked good in my viewings (which is evident in his low on-ice shooting percentage in the AHL, where has has probably been owed better luck. Leason sees the ice well, making an uncharacteristic amount of east-west plays for a 6-foot-4 winger and regularly showing that he’s not necessarily just a give-and-go guy at the pro level (though he has so far had to play that way in the NHL due to some limitations). He has shown in the AHL some quiet creativity and an ability to make soft little bump plays after effectively using his size to protect the puck on the cycle, too. But he does have some trouble getting to the inside (especially given his size), which limits his NHL upside at this point, plus he still has work to do to improve his skating. If he can, you’ll start to see him make more plays in the NHL. If he can’t, his current status as a tweeter may be as far as he goes. Even in his limited usage this season, his strong xGF% and underlying numbers bode well for his effectiveness in the NHL even with his pedestrian AHL production. " | ||
| 19- Braden Schneider Défenseur 20 ans 6'2 209 lbs Repêché 20ie au total en 2020 par Washington.  |
" Schneider’s progression since draft day has followed a steady incline without taking off up a steep slope. In doing so, he has continued to maintain his status as a B-plus prospect who projects as a rock-solid middle-three two-way defender. His polished, physical, stand-up style against the rush and space-filling style inside the offensive zone have translated well at the pro level, where he’s still able to use his length and strength to take away time, close out on pucks with his stick first and his body second, and win his 50/50 engagements. The worry with players who are at an athletic advantage at lower levels is that they’ll lose some of that effectiveness against men but Schneider’s a comfortable enough player in other areas of the game and a strong enough skater that they’re still a strength. He’s smart enough to make the second play instead of the first one when the first one is a low-percentage choice. He’s efficient enough to make the first play when it’s the right one and complete flat, crisp passes on outlets that rarely end up in the recipient’s feet. He’s got a hard point shot which he does a good job getting through traffic (even if it’s not a cannon and he doesn’t attack off the line to use it from more dangerous spots all that much). And while he’s not going to break teams down offensively or flash much creativity, he’ll make plays often enough to contribute at both ends in the NHL. " | ||
| 20- Rhett Pitlick Ailier Gauche 20 ans 5'9 161 lbs Repêché 98ie au total en 2019 par Washington.  |
" Pitlick works hard enough to make up for his diminutive frame. He is a smooth skater who has hands that match his feet. He has middle-six upside but remains a long term project at this time. " | ||
| Mentions honorables: |
- Mikael Pyyhtia (LW/C) |