Sources: The Athletic, Dobber Prospects, Elite Prospects, FC Hockey, Last Word on Sports, Lines, Recruit Scouting, Scouching Report, Smaht Scouting, The Draft Analyst, The Hockey News, The Hockey Writers
Today's blog focuses on a deeper analysis of my top choices for who the Blackhawks could select at the 11th spot in the upcoming NHL Draft. The next blog will focus on who to consider in subsequent rounds where the Hawks have the following picks:
* 2nd round x2
* 3rd round none
* 4th round x2
* 5th round none
* 6th round x1
* 7th round x2
List Review
The lists below are a quick review of last week's blog where I gave a sneak preview of 1st round predictions. Again, these lists are subject to change by draft day on July 23. As always, your thoughts and criticisms are most welcome on the message boards.
Note: Each list is alphabetical, not in order of preference.
Top Choices for 11th
* Nikita Chibrikov (RW)
* Sebastian Cossa (G)
* Chaz Lucius (C)
* Mason McTavish (C)
* Cole Sillinger (C)
* Fyodor Svechkov (C)
* Jesper Wallstedt (G)
McTavish is bound to go in the top 10 so he may not be available when the Hawks make their selection. There's also the increasing chance that at least one of Wallstedt or Cossa is picked in the top 10 as well. I wouldn't count Lucius out either as a top 10 candidate.
Consider if a Later 1st Rounder Acquired
* Sean Behrens (D)
* Carson Lambos (D)
* Sasha Pastujov (LW)
Three players who I have removed from this second list are Zach Bolduc, Xavier Bourgault, and Aatu Raty. I still like them but not in the opening round. Bolduc and Bourgault seem destined to be 3rd liners while Raty is too much of a "high risk/high reward" draftee.
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Nikita Chibrikov (RW)
SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
5'10" 172
Nikita Chibrikov is the first of two forward draftees who seem like picks that Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and vice president of amateur scouting Mark Kelley fancy much like Lukas Reichel was last year when he surprised many when taken at 17th.
Chibrikov is a playmaker who works his tail off by competing hard for pucks, dedicating himself to making every play count toward something productive, playing without fear, and committing to a team game. He may not be a speedster but is nimble and elusive.
Not a big player, Chibrikov is still defensively responsible and willing to engage physically and drive through traffic. He can create space for linemates but also doesn't need others to create chances for him as he can do it himself if play dictates.
Where Chibrikov needs to improve is applying himself for a full 60 minutes. When he's on, he's an impact player. However, when he's off, he coasts and can render himself invisible. Constant assertiveness could go a long way to making it in the NHL.
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Sebastian Cossa (G)
Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
6'6" 212
Like former Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner, Sebastian Cossa uses his size (height and bulk) to take away prime areas for shooters. Unlike Lehner, however, Cossa is more intent on and deft at getting around his crease with little wasted movements.
Cossa is known to let pucks hit him then suck in rebounds rather than scramble in the paint. His athleticism allows him to remain composure in net, gobble up pucks, and reset himself quickly from the previous play to get ready for the next sequence.
An area of technique that Cossa needs to work on is his glove hand. Use of his stick is much stronger in comparison. Yet, his huge size, agility, and confidence give him advantages to compensate until the rest of his game catches up.
A paradox when reviewing scouting reports, Cossa has the ability to read plays as they develop but can lose track of the puck if there are bodies in front. Being 6'6" in height could aid his tracking by seeing over traffic but through it is another story.
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Chaz Lucius (C)
U.S. NTDP
6'0" 172
Chaz Lucius is a maven with the puck especially in his shot selection and strength on his shots. He's reminiscent of Dominik Kubalik in having a knack for finding soft areas and getting behind defenders for scoring chances while able to wire the puck any which way.
A competitor and a difference maker up and down the ice, Lucius uses his vision and hockey sense to fuel his playmaking ability so he's not a one-trick pony. Defensively, he's okay. He may not be PK material but he's not a slacker either at even strength.
While his skating could be better, especially adding another gear, Lucius is adept at evading defenders to beat them on the rush. Either way, though, he may end up moving to the wing in the NHL. Skating aside, Lucius is a puck magnet like Brandon Hagel.
At least thus far in his young career, Lucius' wizardry is with shooting but not necessarily other parts of his game where he's more textbook in some areas and pedestrian in others. He's not horrible by any means but not electrifying in everything he does.
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Mason McTavish (C)
EHC Olten (Switzerland)
6'2" 207
Mason McTavish battles for pucks, drives the middle, crashes the net, and puts power behind all of his plays. If he needs to get to an area of the ice, he will bulldog his way there. He can be tough for the opponent to contain in the offensive zone.
McTavish is a pure goal scorer who can unleash wicked shots from anywhere as well as cash in rebounds from the crease. However, he's similar to Dylan Strome and Alex Nylander in that if they're not on scoring lines, they don't bring much value to lower lines.
A weakness that McTavish needs to work on is his skating which is mediocre and could be much better. One way to describe his skating is he only has one speed that's neither fast nor slow. His lack of footspeed may prevent him from creating separation from defenders.
Despite areas for improvement, McTavish's playing style is similar to that of Gabriel Landeskog. Like Landeskog, McTavish is highly skilled offensively, extremely competitive, and uber physical. Currently a center, McTavish could ultimately land at wing in the NHL.
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Cole Sillinger (C)
Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
6'0" 201
Cole Sillinger is dependable in all zones with his compete level and hustle. He's a workhorse and is a lot for defenders to handle along the walls, in the corners, and around the net. Cycling is a major part of his game. So is laying down a heavy forecheck.
Sillinger is a difference maker whether netting goals himself or creating space for his teammates to make their jobs easier. He has NHL size but so did Mark McNeill. The difference is Sillinger actually uses his size to win battles and make it hard to play against.
A common criticism of Sillinger is his skating which needs work. He can get going and has agility but needs to add another gear or two. Another critique is that he can coast sometimes particularly in his own end. However, when he asserts himself, he's a force.
Just like Lucius and McTavish, Sillinger may be better suited on the wing than as a pivot in the pros. Nonetheless, Sillinger is also a punisher dishing out hits and uses his size and strength to his advantage to outmuscle opponents.
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Fyodor Svechkov (C)
HC Lada Togliatti (Russia)
6'0" 179
Fyodor Svechkov is the other draftee who seems to fit the Bowman-Kelley mold. Like Reichel, Svechkov can play center as well as both wings. While he's not fast and has awkward mechanics, Svechkov is a functional enough skater to accomplish whatever the job is.
Deemed a safe pick in that he's reliable in all zones and in all situations, Svechkov will at least be an excellent 3rd liner as his floor with potential to be a top 6 center if he can flex his offensive skills more so he's not just a support player.
Svechkov could be a higher-end Artem Anisimov when he formed a formidable line with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin where the little things he did paid dividends for his more dynamic and gifted wingers. Svechkov may not pile up points but he still adds value to top lines.
Smart and not shy to play the body, Svechkov competes, commits to defense, knows where to be on the ice, and gets open for passes but can also draw defenders to him especially crashing the crease so his more talented teammates can work their magic.
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Jesper Wallstedt (G)
Lulea HF (Sweden)
6'3" 214
Jesper Wallstedt's modus operandi is that he plays calm between the pipes, is technically sound, stays square to shooters, and is economical in his movements. This may sound familiar as that's how best to describe Hawks current starter Kevin Lankinen.
Similar to Cossa as a huge goalie (weighs more but is a few inches shorter), Wallstedt allows pucks to hit him then controls the rebounds. Instead of reacting, he employs his intelligence and hockey sense to cut down angles and track pucks.
Although some scouting reports say the opposite, some say Wallstedt could stand to get around his crease in quicker bursts when such plays necessitate him to cover an area swiftly. Even so, all of his strengths could make up for this deficiency.
One thing to like about Wallstedt is how locked in he can be in games with razor sharp focus. Unlike Cossa, Wallstedt is equally strong with a lightning fast glove and equally balanced stickhandling where he can pass on both his forehand and backhand.
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Sean Behrens (D)
U.S. NTDP
5'10" 176
After Owen Power and Simon Edvinsson, Sean Behrens could arguably be the third best defender in this draft (i.e. can actually play defense) over a few other blueliners in Brandt Clarke, Luke Hughes, and Carson Lambos who are projected to go higher than him.
Behrens may be small but he has a high compete level and relishes in shutting down the other team. His game is very much like that of Duncan Keith as he's remarkable at neutralizing plays by shrinking the ice, wielding an active stick, and winning battles with his feet.
Being relentlessly active across the entire ice sheet makes Behrens useful in big and small ways shift after shift. He's skilled enough to skate the puck out of trouble, move the puck up ice, and make crisp passes. His shooting, though, could be more controlled and accurate.
Also, hockey smarts help Behrens anticipate throughout the game and make timely pinches, read plays rapidly and accurately, and manage gaps. His skating is exceptional with blinding speed, great edgework, deceptive strides, and fearlessness to weave through traffic.
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Carson Lambos (D)
JYP Jr. (Finland)
6'1" 201
With Carson Lambos, it's defense first with him which is bolstered by his athleticism, above average skating, competitive spirit, and capacity for physical play. He's a vocal leader on the ice just like Ian Mitchell who likes to direct his teammates.
Lambos has been criticized for being limited offensively but is that really a problem if he plays on a D corps dotted with mail carriers like the Blackhawks are trending to be. Many scouting reports say his transition game is sufficient to contribute to a mobile blueline.
While he has a willingness to join the rush, Lambos needs to pick his spots better so he's not caught out of position. Once in the offensive zone, though, Lambos is a weapon at the point with an arsenal of shot varieties he can unleash on net. He walks the line fairly well.
If Lambos makes it as a top 4 in the NHL, it's likely as the anchor on the 2nd pair and member of at least the penalty kill if not the power play, too. Either way, he can be leaned on in all situations and when the game is on the line.
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Sasha Pastujov (LW)
U.S. NTDP
6'0" 183
Sasha Pastujov hustles and competes hard, pounces on pucks, provides scoring punch, and uses sublime vision to thread passes through traffic. He executes in all zones. He doesn't need a lot of space to generate offense and gets open for teammates to feed him, too.
Skating may hold Pastujov back if he can't compensate enough with his more positive attributes. Additionally, some scouts have issues with his compete level while others praise him for it. Regardless, he isn't dependent on linemates to make him go and tends to be the play driver.
Pastujov can run a power play as well as be counted on in high-pressure situations trying to tie the score or get a lead. He exhibits patience with the puck to wait for options to open up. And like Lucius, pucks seem to find Pastujov partially because of his relentless pursuit.
In his own end, Pastujov is effective when he maintains focus on shutting down the other team and not letting his mind flee up ice before the puck does. Improved skating, assertiveness, and strength could amp up his defensive dependability as well.
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