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Future Watch 2016
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
TEXAS TURNOVER
GRADE B | RANK 10 JIM NILL HAS PREACHED PATIENCE WITH PROSPECTS, BUT THE Dallas Stars GM's hand might be forced next fall as his current group of young stars is pushing very hard against the ceiling of the AHL. The NHL Stars have seven pending unrestricted free agents, and have about five kids who could fight for those vacated positions in Brett Ritchie, Jason Dickinson, Radek Faksa, Devin Shore and Esa Lindell. When you add older “prospects” in Stephen Johns and Curtis McKenzie, the battle for 2016-17 roster spots has already begun. 1 JULIUS HONKA D, 20, 5-11, 185 Texas (AHL) 56–9–26–35–36 2014 draft, 14th overall Honka is the epitome of Nill’s plan for patience: he could still be a year away from playing in the NHL. Lindell and Johns rank ahead of him…
TOP 50 WITH 20/20 VISION
BACK IN 2011, BRAYDEN Schenn looked like the best player outside the NHL. He had just finished lighting the world juniors on fire and was on a two-point-per-game pace in the WHL. It was no surprise he would top the list when it came to deciding the top 50 prospects for Future Watch 2011. Five years later, Schenn isn’t at the level we expected. He’s an NHL regular but just a slightly above average one. His best season so far was a 47-point effort last year, and he isn’t much on the defensive side. He was the obvious choice at the time, but it doesn’t seem like Schenn will become the difference maker he was expected to be when the Los Angeles Kings drafted him fifth overall in 2009. That’s not the…
PAYING THE MORTGAGE
GRADE C– | RANK 30 1 PAVEL BUCHNEVICH LW, 20, 6-1, 176 St. Petersburg (KHL) 58–16–21–37–24 2013 draft, 75th overall The KHL playoffs end in April, so the skilled, speedy Russian playmaker, who has the best upside of New York’s prospects, could be available this spring for the Rangers. Buchnevich wants to play in the NHL but not the AHL. The Rangers can use his dynamic presence, especially on the power play. The KHL playoff tests should help, as will added strength and training when he arrives in North America. The Blueshirts want him to be a top-nine regular in 2016-17. OVERALL 44 2 BRADY SKJEI D, 21, 6-3, 206 Hartford (AHL) 52–3–19–22–20 2012 draft, 28th overall Skjei (pronounced “Shea”) is a likely call-up when rosters expand and might begin next season with the club given Dan Boyle's expected…
JETS KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON
GRADE B+ | RANK 5 THE JETS EARNED THE TOP GRADE IN LAST YEAR'S FUTURE WATCH and find four of the featured players on their team in 2015-16. Yet their current prospect pool, despite graduations, may not have dropped off much, if at all. Having two 2015 first-rounders (Kyle Connor, Jack Roslovic) making an impact as college freshmen helps. Six players have moved from the system to the big club in three years, validating some drafting. But GM Kevin Cheveldayoff eyes more stability now. “What you’d like is (prospects) growing and slowing the process down for the next guys,” he said. 1 KYLE CONNOR LW , 19, 6-1, 175 Michigan (Big Ten) 28–24–27–51–4 2015 draft, 17th overall Connor has rocketed to the head of the class and his team’s scoring chart. He started the year…
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