2016 Memorial Cup Preview: Star-studded group of prospects go head-to-head in Red Deer

by Chris Roberts
Mitchell Marner - London Knights; Francis Perron - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies; Nolan Patrick - Brandon Wheat Kings; Adam Helewka - Red Deer Rebels - 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup

Photo: The 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup will feature a number of top NHL prospects, including Mitch Marner of the London Knights, Francis Perron on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings, and Adam Helewka of the Red Deer Rebels (courtesy of Aaron Bell/OHL Images, Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images, and Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

 

 

The stars will be out at the 98th Memorial Cup, and it is expected that the ratings will reflect that. Between the four teams participating, there will be 26 NHL-drafted prospects present in Red Deer for the year-end tournament of champions. (more…)

2011 NHL Draft: Arizona Coyotes sought strength in Saskatchewan

by Peter Prohaska
Connor Murphy - Arizona Coyotes

Photo: Arizona’s 2011 first-round pick Connor Murphy has developed into an NHL defender, as well as a consistent blueliner for Team USA (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

 

 

The 2010-11 season produced a playoff berth for the Phoenix Coyotes, but one that ended poorly, in a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings. With that bitter defeat in mind, and having conceded 18 goals in those four games, toughness seemed to be the foremost goal at the draft table. The offensive flair the Coyotes have added in recent years is missing, but some of these players have indeed gone on to help the franchise’s cause.

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Goaltenders highlight Philadelphia Flyers NCAA and European prospects

by Jashvina Shah
Merrick Madsen - Harvard

Photo: Harvard goaltender and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Merrick Madsen emerged as a starter in his sophomore season and finished eighth in the nation with a .931 save percentage.(courtesy John Crouch/Icon Sportswire).

 

 

The Flyers have a crop of prospects playing in both the NCAA and European levels, including almost all their goaltending prospects. A couple of netminders showed improvement this year, while some played few games and others – namely Matej Tomek – didn’t play at all.

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San Jose Sharks prospects awarded for progress this season

by Craig Fischer
Alex Schoenborn - San Jose Sharks

Photo: San Jose Sharks prospect Alex Schoenborn finished second on the Winterhawks in scoring and earned an entry-level contract (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

 

 

2015-16 was a strong development season for many of the San Jose Sharks’ best prospects. Up front the Sharks look to have a few more top-six potential players in their midst than previously thought, and on the back end the team looks poised to continue its steady stream of mobile, puck-moving, bottom-pairing defenders. In net there are still major questions, but with the confident play of Martin Jones up in San Jose, the organization can manage to take its time. Collectively it was a great season for the Sharks prospects.

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Prospect Impressions: Saves of the season featuring Condon, Nedeljkovic, Vasilevskiy, and more

by David Hahn
Alex Nedeljkovic - Niagara IceDogs

Photo: Niagara IceDogs goaltender and Carolina Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedeljkovic turned in a strong season in the OHL once he was moved from the troubled Flint Firebirds club to Niagara (courtesy of CHL Images)

 

 

In this special edition of Prospect Impressions, we kick off the first of our “Best of the Year” series with some of the best saves of the season. Goaltenders were featured heavily throughout the season, with a number of fine saves making their way into our highlight articles in 2015-16. There were a number of special efforts, including one goalie who made a save on his stomach, another who stymied a 2-on-0 breakaway, and a few glove saves that should be investigated for robbery. (more…)

2016 IIHF World Championship: Michigan’s ‘CCM’ trio learns from the pros

by Derek O'Brien
Tyler Motte (L) and Kyle Connor (R) - Team USA - 2016 IIHF World Championship

Photo: Former University of Michigan forwards Tyler Motte (L) and Kyle Connor (R) are competing for Team USA at the 2016 IIHF World Championship along with their former linemate, JT Compher (courtesy of Pavel Bednyakov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

 

 

Team USA’s 25-man roster at this year’s IIHF World Championship includes six players who played college hockey this season. Three of those were linemates with the No. 7-ranked team in the nation and the Big Ten tournament champion – the University of Michigan Wolverines. (more…)

2016 IIHF World Championship: The next generation of Canadian defensemen

by Derek O'Brien
Cody Ceci - Team Canada - 2016 IIHF World Championship

Photo: Ottawa Senators defenseman Cody Ceci is tied for fourth in scoring by a defenseman at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, posting one goal and four assists in six games for the unbeaten Canadian squad (courtesy of Pavel Bednyakov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

 

The next generation of Canadian defensemen.

That’s what they’re saying about the crop of defenders that have come out of the 2012 NHL Draft, and six of those are currently playing for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship in Russia. (more…)

Top prospects prevalent among New York Islanders awards

by Christian Litscher
Mathew Barzal - Seattle Thunderbirds

Photo: In leading the Seattle Thunderbirds to the WHL finals, Mathew Barzal was the New York Islanders prospect of the year. (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

 

 

The 2015-16 season has been a season of optimism for the Islanders faithful. The organization has now made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2004-05 lockout and advanced to the second round for the first time since 1993.

The team’s best days are ahead of them as they have a surplus of bluechip prospects waiting in the wings: Mathew Barzal, Ryan Pulock, and Michael Dal Colle. (more…)

2016 IIHF World Championship: Reway a leader on Slovakia squad that features younger talent

by Derek O'Brien
Martin Reway - Sparta Prague - Champions Hockey League

Photo: Team Slovakia forward and Montreal Canadiens prospect Martin Reway began the 2015-16 season with HC Sparta Prague, then switched to Switzerland’s NLA where he competed for Fribourg-Gotteron (courtesy of Sparta Prague/Champions Hockey League via Getty Images)

 

 

Martin Reway was a standout for the Slovak national U18 and U20 teams, scoring at well over a point per game at World Championships in both of those age groups. Now he is playing in his second IIHF World Championship at the senior level and, at just 21 years of age, is already wearing an “A” on his sweater. (more…)

Washington Capitals continue tradition with strong group of Europe-based prospects

by Sean Shapiro
Thomas Di Pauli - Notre Dame

Photo: Notre Dame forward and Washington Capitals prospect Thomas Di Pauli was a greatly improved player in his final two seasons of collegiate hockey with the Fighting Irish (courtesy of Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

 

 

Looking at both sides of the pond, the Washington Capitals had long-term projects playing in the NCAA ranks and Europe this past season.

In college Washington a group of forwards that all matured more this season and one prospect who won a national title. In Europe, Washington watched as a group of teenagers started to step up against adult competition, including top-ranked prospect and 19 year old goalie Ilya Samsonov in the KHL.

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