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Top Prospect’s Game Report
By Brock Otten, Will Scouch, Dylan Krill and Sam McGilligan
Recently, the 2022 CHL Top Prospect’s Game was held in Kitchener, Ontario, a showcase event for the top Canadian Hockey League players eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft. Several members of the McKeen’s team took in the event (Scouting Director Brock Otten, Ontario Regional Scout Dylan Krill, Head of Video Scouting Will Scouch, and Video Scout Sam McGilligan) and have provided their standouts and disappointments of the event, one of the highlights of the scouting season each year.
Overall, the game was a fairly one sided one, even if the 3-1 score did not indicate it to be. Team White dominated the game from start to finish and if not for some terrific goaltending by Ivan Zhigalov and Reid Dyck, the score would have likely been 6 or 7 to 1. For Team White, the line of Jagger Firkus, Jake Karabela, and Owen Beck stole the show, with Firkus taking home team MVP after posting one goal and one assist. For Team Red, potential first overall selection Shane Wright was named team MVP because he scored the side’s only goal. However, this was hotly debated in the media room, with many believing it should have been given to another member of team Red such as Reid Dyck or Kevin Korchinski.
Here are the McKeen’s scouting team standouts from the event:
Brock Otten’s Standouts
Denton Mateychuk - Defense - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
While Moose Jaw teammate Jagger Firkus was the well-deserved MVP for Team White, Denton Mateychuk could have also been a choice for the honor. Team White’s captain, Mateychuk finished the event +2, had an assist, and stood out positively at both ends of the ice through all three periods. We have had Mateychuk firmly in the middle part of our first round ranking all season long thanks in part to how much our Western Canada scouts, and video scouting team love him, so it was great to finally see him in person. He was ultra-aggressive from an offensive perspective all game long, but selected his spots well to jump up into the play or pinch to keep pucks in. His ability to lead the breakout was also impressive, as he showed off his impressive footwork and hands to lead several clean exits and entries. From a defensive perspective, he did well to shut down Team Red’s transitional attacks, again showing off his impressive four-way mobility to mind his gaps well. Sitting with some other scouts during the game, Mateychuk was definitely consistently brought up as someone making a very positive impression and it’s safe to say that his performance likely elevated his status among a solid defensive crop this draft year. Yes, it’s only one game, but Mateychuk has been terrific all season for the upstart Warriors, so this event only worked to reaffirm and cement his place among the top blueliners available in 2022.
Reid Dyck - Goaltender - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
I debated between Guelph Storm forward Jake Karabela and Dyck for my second standout, as both were terrific, however I am going to write about Dyck because I came into the event pretty unfamiliar with his game. Let’s be frank, Team Red did not play well. They were over matched and dominated for the majority of the game. Both red goalies, Dyck and Ivan Zhigalov played well, with Zhigalov giving up three goals but making a few highlight reel stops too. Dyck stopped all 23 shots he faced, with many of them being high danger opportunities. The Swift Current goaltender has faced a ton of rubber this year on a rebuilding Broncos squad and has gone through ups and downs in his first full WHL year. However, the 6 ‘4 Dyck put his athleticism on display, making tough save after tough save. He was aggressive in challenging shooters. He controlled his rebounds well. He tracked the play well. It was one of the most impressive goaltending performances in recent memory from the event. The good news? Dyck’s exposure to scouts is likely to continue past the WHL season as he is the odds-on favorite to be Canada’s starting netminder at this year’s IIHF Under 18’s. The goaltending class for this year’s draft is very poor. Quite frankly, who the top netminder is, is still to be decided. Additionally, no goaltender available is even a lock to be taken inside of the Top 90. After his showing at this event, scouts will be watching Dyck closely down the stretch. If he plays well at the U18’s (assuming he is indeed playing for Canada), Dyck could vault up draft rankings leading up to the draft in Montreal.
Will Scouch’s Standouts
Reid Schaefer - Wing - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
People like to postulate that I’m not a fan of players with size, but that’s never been the case. The question of size changes the parameters and spectra you use to analyze a player, and there are tradeoffs with those on the far ends of the size scale. Schaefer is a great example of a player who brings the traits I’m looking for in a larger player. Puck protection using skill and body positioning in conjunction, fluid skating if not particularly quick, and a willingness to use their physical tools off-puck to create turnovers. Schaefer was a player I had very limited expectations for in the Top Prospects Game, but he had some impressive moments off puck laying the body, and picking off passes, as well as some displays of puck protection and skill in the offensive zone to get deep into the offensive zone. He isn’t extremely high on my list, but he caught my eye more than I thought he would and may require having a more detailed look before the end of the season.
Nathan Gaucher - Center - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Nathan Gaucher is a player where you can tell exactly what role they should be playing in an NHL situation. I don’t think Gaucher has huge upside as a high scoring power center, but he could certainly carve out a role in a bottom six situation, primarily in a defensive role with some playmaking skill under pressure creating greasy chances for his team. He scored extremely well in the forward skating tests, which checks out to me. He’s a big boy, but when he gets moving, I’ve seen him beat out icings, win retrievals, carry pucks past defenders cleanly, and use his speed to be one of the more intense physical players in this draft. While I didn’t see a ton of those bursts of speed in the Top Prospects Game, I noted a few pickoffs that quickly led to scoring chances fighting through pressure to send passes into dangerous areas. He laid the body a few times during the game, one of which was the direct cause of an offensive transition for his team that wouldn’t show up as anything notable in the scoresheet. Gaucher may be drafted well higher than I’d be ready to pick him, but I believe it’s easy to see a fast, north/south physical player with playmaking potential carve out a role as a checking forward in the NHL one day, and that certainly carries some level of value past a certain point in the draft.
Dylan Krill’s Standouts
Danny Zhilkin - Center - Guelph Storm (OHL)
Zhilkin stuck to his game and played a responsible 200ft game while also displaying his soft hands and ability to drive play with the puck. Zhilkin didn’t take long to get on the scoresheet, feeding Shane Wright a perfect pass while on a two on one for an assist on his second shift of the game. Zhilkin did a great job reading play, especially in the neutral zone, where he was able to interrupt rushes by cutting off puck carriers’ lanes with his body and strong stick positioning. He also made his presence known in the defensive zone, continuing to use his active stick to block shot attempts, get under opponents sticks to force turnovers and make it difficult on opponents to find open space. There were many times where he displayed his skating in transition, separating himself from opponents with his quick feet and strong stride. Not only was Zhilkin active in transition when carrying the puck, he also showed his strength at moving the puck up the ice with great executed passes. He showed that he understands when to be patient to wait for passing lanes to open up and hit his teammate in perfect timing to avoid losing momentum on the rush. In the third period, there was a turnover resulting in Zhilkin and Matthew Savoie on a two on one where Zhilkin was able to get open for the pass, caught it in his skates, handling it with no difficulty and quickly passed it back to Savoie for a great scoring chance. I came away from this game with only positive thoughts about Zhilkin and it’s clear to me that he should be a target for teams in the late first or early second round.
Matyas Sapovaliv - Center - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Sapovaliv didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he displayed why he belonged in this game and why he’s among the top OHL players eligible for the upcoming draft. Sapovaliv applied great pressure on puck carriers throughout the game, using his long reach to create havoc and force turnovers. He was able to use his size and strength to over-power opponents consistently, winning the majority of puck battles he was in. Sapovaliv’s hands and playmaking also stood out many times. Handling the puck well in-tight and through traffic, being able to create plays with little space to work with. He’s able to control and protect the puck very well along the boards and on the cycle, prolonging possession for his team when needed. Sapovaliv was relied on to kill penalties in this game like he usually does with Saginaw and had no difficulty handling the top talents in the CHL. He uses full advantage of his reach and takes away a lot of space from opponents. He made a great play shutting down a breakout attempt by Kevin Korchinski, anticipating the play and cutting off Korchinski’s lane with a great display of Sapovaliv’s skating, then knocking the puck off his stick. Later during that same shift, he was able to make a similar play on Isaiah George in the defensive zone, forcing a turnover and then making a pass to create a transition opportunity for his team. For a forward who is 6’3”, Sapovaliv is a good skater who is light on his feet and has a smooth skating stride with strong edges, allowing him to cover a lot of ice. I believe many teams will value Sapovaliv highly as he has size, great tools, produces consistently and is responsible defensively. Teams should consider him in the early second round.
Sam McGilligan’s Standouts
Kevin Korchinski - Defense - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
For me, no player left a more positive impression at the Top Prospects Game than Kevin Korchinski. Amongst the chaos, Korchinski’s poise allowed him to see the game a step or two ahead of the rest, allowing for clever opportunities to solve multivariable problems on both offense and defense. His defensive recoveries were subtle, efficient and provided transitional opportunities that constantly created an advantage for Team Red. It was night and day when he was on the ice and when he wasn’t as Korchinski being on the bench meant Team Red was often found buried in their zone for extended periods of time. This showing really reinforced what I was seeing in Korchinski as the season progressed -- a highly intelligent defender who applies his skill and four-way mobility into less flashy, more practical touches that frequently advance play for the team.
Jagger Firkus - Wing - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Every viewing of Jagger Firkus impresses me more than the last and this game was no exception. His insane production this year felt unsustainable at first, but after maintaining it for such a long period of time it’s becoming more and more clear that Firkus deserves to be mentioned amongst the best prospects the WHL has to offer this year. Like Korchinski, I saw more of what makes Firkus a legitimate first round prospect -- a skilled, versatile forward who weaponizes his passing arsenal and sharp directional changes to attack between the hash marks. The more you watch Firkus, the more you start to identify his offensive zone routing and the cleverness behind it. He created numerous chances during this game, but the obvious standout was his highlight reel goal displaying his skill and deception as he drove the middle for a dangerous chance. That goal might just be what it takes for Firkus to get the recognition he’s long deserved.
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Here are the McKeen’s scouting team disappointments from the event:
Brock Otten’s Disappointment
Conor Geekie - Center - Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
No question, Geekie was one of the players that I was most excited to see play. I have obviously watched a fair amount of video of the Ice this year to compare Savoie and Geekie, especially leading up to our midseason ranking release at the start of the new year. However, I was hyped for a live viewing and truthfully it was not Geekie’s best showing. Early on in the first period, he made a bad read at the point, throwing a pass across the ice just inside the blueline that was intercepted by Shane Wright for a breakaway opportunity (that he missed). Then later in the period he got blown by Shane Wright trying to help defend a two on two, making it a two on one, which ultimately led to Wright’s goal. In the third, he took an undisciplined penalty out of frustration, just as his team was trying to get back into the game. To top it off, he went 4 for 10 at the faceoff circle. There were some nice moments offensively, but most of it was done through individual efforts and Geekie just never seemed to gel with his linemates Paul Ludwinski and Vinzenz Rohrer. It is important to not overreact to a single game. Many quality NHL players have had subpar performances in the Top Prospect’s Game. However, as someone who had never seen Geekie live before, I just wanted a little more from him. If anything, some of those perceived weaknesses (such as his explosiveness) were highlighted further thanks to the increased pace of play in the game.
Will Scouch’s Disappointment
Isaiah George - Defense - London Knights (OHL)
I’ve really struggled with George this season. He caught my eye earlier this year as a player who was not particularly playing to his strengths and a few video sessions and encouragement could point him in a better direction. He was struggling to score, but showed flashes of great deceptive skill on breakouts, and a strong pair of legs that can get him up ice in a hurry. In my data, I see a player constantly putting pucks into no-man’s land moving up the ice, putting pucks off the boards and out, and playing more conservatively than I would imagine. In the Top Prospects Game, he seemed to bring a bit of confidence, but a bit of panic under pressure from forecheckers, causing a few turnovers in inopportune spots. I’ve seen him use his feet and frame to close out defensive entries, but he seemed to struggle on a few occasions to do so. It’s only one game, but I felt that George was a little behind my expectations coming in. I know what I’ve seen in the past with him, and I hope that a few years of experience can help refine his game into what I believe it could be, but I found his showing to be a little bit underwhelming.
Dylan Krill’s Disappointment
Jorian Donovan - Defense - Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
Going into this game I was excited to see how Donovan would do playing against the best from the CHL, but I came away with more questions about his game than I had before. Many times throughout the game Donovan struggled to handle the puck and was caught behind the play too many times, becoming a liability more than an asset to his team, finishing the night a -3. Although he displayed his strong skating ability, he wasn’t able to use it to his advantage. Not being able to find lanes or space to carry the puck up the ice in transition and skating into traffic. There were times Donovan looked overwhelmed, losing positioning, giving up turnovers in the defensive zone and allowing too much time and space for opponents. Even though Donovan had an underwhelming performance, there were still some positive takeaways from this game. He was able to display strong gap control and good stick positioning at moments and also showed that he can play physically. His mobility allowed him to keep up with the high pace and stood out at times, using his strong edges and quick feet to escape pressure. Despite this not being the best performance for Donovan, I believe he should be someone that teams start to think about drafting in the fourth or fifth round as he does have some nice raw tools.
Sam McGilligan’s Disappointment
Ty Nelson - Defense - North Bay Battalion (OHL)
For me, the player I was most excited to watch at the Top Prospects Game this year was Ty Nelson. He was a personal favorite coming into the year, as I believed his ridiculous shooting/passing abilities combined with his deception and mobility would have him listed amongst the best defenders in the draft. For the first bit of the season, that was showing itself to be partly true. Refinement was required, but the foundation of what Nelson offers was there in spades, and it was exciting to think of how he could improve as the year progressed. Instead, Nelson’s game seems to have become less reliant on using his tools as a puck mover and more reliant on stretch passing, point shots, and dump-ins to advance play. I was hoping playing in a new environment might be what we needed to see Nelson return to form, but he seemed to struggle with the pace of play. Odd defensive positioning, missed passing opportunities, getting muscled off the puck -- Nelson certainly didn’t have the standout performance I was looking for. Still, the third period showed notable improvement and I still believe that there is a first-round talent here.
