NHL Prospect Roundup: Reid Schaefer can’t be stopped
Let’s try something new.
Each Monday, we’re going to look at a handful of standout NHL-drafted prospects around the world. Whether that be high-end young guns showing why they’re highly regarded or some of the more underrated names finding ways to stand out, we’ll help you get up to date on what’s going on in the prospect world.
The idea is to have a bit of variety – you won’t see duplicate teams represented. There will be a focus on finding some of the more hidden gems too, instead of giving praise to the same top names each week.
So, let’s get started with 10 prospects that made some noise over the past week:
WHL
– Did the Edmonton Oilers snag a gem in 2022 first-rounder Reid Schaefer? He’s tied with phenom Connor Bedard for the WHL lead with 10 goals, but Schaefer has done so in five fewer games. The Seattle Thunderbirds’ forward showed some promise with Edmonton during the pre-season and has taken that momentum and channeled it into terrorizing junior-aged goalies out of Western Canada. He’s on pace for 96 goals this season, for what it’s worth.
– As a sixth-round pick in 2021, Lucas Ciona doesn’t get much attention as an Anaheim Ducks prospect. But through seven games, he’s up to six goals and 15 points, highlighted by a six-point effort on Saturday against Everett. Ciona has points in every game, and he’s nearly halfway to surpassing his previous best of 35 points last year. Heck, at this pace, he’ll blast it by over 100 points, too.
OHL
– The Colorado Avalanche didn’t draft many players in 2022, but Ivan Zhigalov, the last selection in the Draft, is off to a tremendous start. Undrafted in 2021, Zhigalov has been the backbone of Kingston’s season so far with a .938 save percentage and a 4-2-1 record through seven games. He’s starting to show what he’s capable of and should be in contention for the league’s top goalie award.
– How about Ty Voit‘s early play in Sarnia? The 19-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs prospect tops the OHL with 21 points in 10 games. He has a point in every game, including a pair of four-point efforts. Toronto doesn’t have an exceptional prospect pool right now, but Voit, a fifth-round pick in 2021, is making noise.
QMJHL
– It was a great week for Columbus Blue Jackets prospects, including James Malatesta, Trey Fix-Wolansky and Carson Meyer. But Jordan Dumais, an 18-year-old with the Halifax Mooseheads, has been on an absolute tear this season. Dumais had had eight points over three QMJHL games last week, including a four-goal, five-point effort in a 6-3 win over Acadie-Bathurst. He’s up to nine goals and 22 points in just nine games – some quick math points him towards a 166-point campaign if he plays all 68 games like he did last year, when he also smashed the 100-point barrier.
NCAA
– The University of Michigan boasts some incredible talent once again, highlighted by 2023 NHL Draft star Adam Fantilli. Mackie Samoskevich, though, has been instrumental in the team’s early play, scoring five goals and 10 points in six games. Taken 24th overall by the Florida Panthers at the 2021 NHL Draft, Samoskevich has four multi-point games to his credit and is averaging around five shots per game. Fantilli has received most of the attention at Michigan, but Samoskevich and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Dylan Duke deserve a ton of love making up the NCAA’s most feared line.
– There’s a handful of NHL-drafted goalie prospects doing big things in the NCAA, including Buffalo’s Devon Levi and Erik Portillo. But Montreal Canadiens prospect Jakub Dobes deserves love thanks to an impressive 6-1-1 start while boasting a 1.80 goals-against average and .931 SV% in eight games. The 2020 fifth-round pick has been dominant throughout his NCAA career at Ohio State and is quickly becoming one of Montreal’s more interesting prospects.
Sweden
– Future Detroit Red Wings Defenseman William Wallinder has been excellent in the SHL, recording seven points in his first 11 games with Rogle. Taken 32nd overall in 2020, Wallinder also has eight points in six Champions Hockey League games, playing a pivotal role in the team’s chase for the title. At 6-foot-4, Wallinder has great reach and can hold his own physically, but it’s his offensive skills that have taken his game up a notch.
AHL
– Many expected Lukas Reichel to make the Chicago Blackhawks out of training camp, but the coaching staff had other plans. Reichel has taken the demotion in stride, recording six points through four games to be the top-scoring U-21 AHLer so far. With Chicago expected to finish near the bottom of the standings, there was no point in rushing Reichel’s development, and he’s excelling with Rockford right now.
KHL
– Winnipeg Jets fans are starting to get on the Dmitri Rashevsky hype train, and for good reason. The 22-year-old has 17 points in 21 KHL games this year, putting him on pace to reach the 50-point mark in just his second full KHL campaign. He’s unsigned after this year, with the Jets holding his rights after taking him in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He has a skill set that should allow him to transfer over to the NHL quite nicely.
_____
POINTSBET IS LIVE IN ONTARIO. PLAY NOW!
Think you know sports? PointsBet Canada is live in Ontario!