PROSPECT UPDATE
Olson:
- 27 points in 31 WHL games
- 7th round / 210th pick (2nd last) in last year's draft but with the season he's had so far, you'd think he was a 1st or 2nd rounder.
- His stock has skyrocketed recently as he's putting up very good numbers and playing very well eye-test wise in a league that is known to churn out solid D-men.
Virtanen
- 4 points in 19 NHL games + 0 points in 2 AHL games
- Somewhat troubling development since he was drafted. He didn't put up good numbers in junior last year, didn't look NHL ready this year and hasn't looked good at all as a 19YO in the WJC so far.
- It's still very, very early but he's trending to be that 3rd liner some scouts were afraid of when he was drafted. His brain doesn't seem to be on par with his tools.
Shinkaruk
- 25 points in 26 games AHL
- Production has slowed down slightly (he was slightly above PPG earlier, now slightly below) and the people who watch Utica say that he isn't looking as good, either.
- Still some questions about whether he can start playing a less perimeter game so his skills can be better utilized (similar to Baertschi in that sense).
Gaunce:
- 18 points in 21 games (AHL) + 1 point in 2 games (NHL)
- Nice that he's still putting up a decent amount of points. It's not really the most important aspect for him because his grinder game will translate well to the NHL.
- Still has trouble with consistency; some games he'll be a force and other games he looks slow and uninterested.
Subban:
- 16 points in 25 games (AHL)
- Production is increasing but the same questions remain about his play in the D zone.
Cassels:
- 2 points in 24 games (AHL)
- Seems to be getting a little better but still not even close to where we want him to be and still terrible, terrible numbers.
Demko:
- 13-4-1, 0.936 SV%, 1.72 GAA (college).
- Numbers have obviously gone way down since his white hot start but still an excellent season so far.
Boeser:
- 21 points in 20 games (college)
- Production has picked up since the start of the season, he's trending beautifully.
- If you've seen some of his goal GIFs, you'll notice the guy has a wicked shot that's already more than NHL ready.
- Seems to be playing decently so far as a role player for the US at the WJC.
Brisebois:
- 18 points in 33 QMJHL games
- Production isn't really there but he's picked it up since the start of the season and he isn't really an offensive guy anyway.
- Maybe the best player on allegedly an awful team so that hurts his resume a bit.
Zhukenov:
- 32 points in 34 QMJHL games
- Not amazing production but also plays a secondary role on his team.
- Looked good at camp this fall, I think he's a strong candidate to be a bottom-6 NHLer in the future because of his well-rounded game.
Neill:
- 36 points in 34 QMJHL games
- Awesome production but he was drafted a year late (so he's older) and the Q isn't exactly known for developing quality D-men so not really anything to get excited about so far.