2017 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup
Top-31 Prospects
Cream of loaded 2018 draft were on display at the Hlinka
Steve Kournianos | 08/13/2017 | New York | [hupso]
The Draft Analyst (New York) — Several of the top 2000-born prospects eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft were on display at last week’s under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Below is a list of participating players who not only stood out for their respective nations, but boosted or solidified the ranking they received prior to the event. This is not a prediction of how the first round in 2018 will go, as dozens of blue-chip draft prospects could not particiapte in the Hlinka because they were either too old (Nando Eggenberger, Filip Zadina) or nursing an injury (Andrei Svechnikov, Alexander Khovanov).
1. RHD Adam Boqvist — Sweden/Brynas (SHL)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with No. 1 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Lottery pick
2. C Joe Veleno — Canada/Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Player Type: Two-way center with top-line upside
2018 Draft Projection: Lottery pick
3. C Rasmus Kupari — Finland/Karpat U20 (Jr. A SM-Liiga)
Player Type: Playmaking center with top-line upside
2018 Draft Projection: Lottery pick
4. LW Dmitri Zavgorodny — Russia/Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
Player Type: Two-way scoring winger with top-line upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
5. LHD Ty Smith — Canada/Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with No. 1 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Lottery pick
6. RHD Ryan Merkley — Canada/Guelph Storm (OHL)
Player Type: Puck-moving defenseman with top pairing upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle 1st Round
7. C Jakub Lauko — Czech Republic/Chomutov (Extraliga)
Player Type: Scoring center with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
8. RW/C Akil Thomas — Canada/Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)
Player Type: Goal scorer with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle 1st Round
9. C Jesperi Kotkaniemi — Finland/Assat (Liiga)
Player Type: Two-way forward with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 1st Round
10. C/W Jack McBain — Canada/Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)
Player Type: Two-way power center with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 1st Round
11. LHD Nico Gross — Switzerland/Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 2nd Round
12. C Jacob Olofsson – Sweden/Timra IK (Allsvenskan)
Player Type: Two-way center with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
13. LHD Jared McIsaac — Canada/Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
14. RHD Libor Zabransky — Czech Republic/Kometa Brno (Extraliga)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 3rd/4th Round
15. LW Samuel Fagemo — Sweden/Frolunda J20 (Superelit)
Player Type: Scoring winger with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 2nd Round
16. LHD Toni Utunen — Finland/Tappara U20 (Jr. A SM-Liiga)
Player Type: Puck-moving defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round
17. C Benoit Olivier-Groulx — Canada/Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Player Type: Two-way center with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
18. C/LW Ruslan Iskhakov — Russia/Trnava U20 (Slovakia Juniors)
Player Type: Finesse forward with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
19. LHD Rasmus Sandin — Sweden/Rogle J20 (Superelit)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 2nd Round
20. G Akira Schmid — Switzerland/Langnau (Swiss Elite Jr. A)
2018 Draft Projection: 4th/5th Round
21. RHD Calen Addison — Canada/Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 1st Round/Early 2nd Round
22. LW Jan Jenik — Czech Republic/Liberec U20 (Extraliga Juniors)
Player Type: Scoring winger with Top-6 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round
23. LW Gabriel Fortier — Canada/Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Player Type: Two-way winger with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 2nd Round
24. C Jonatan Berggren — Sweden/Skelleftea J20 (Superelit)
Player Type: Two-way center with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Middle/Late 2nd Round
25. C Barrett Hayton — Canada/Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Player Type: Two-way playmaking center with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round/Early 3rd Round
26. RW Pavel Rotenberg — Russia/Dynamo SPB (MHL)
Player Type: Scoring winger with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 5th/6th Round
27. W/C Lukas Wernblom — Sweden/MoDO (SHL)
Player Type: Scoring forward with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 3rd/4th Round
28. C Jack Drury – USA/Chicago Steel (USHL)
Player Type: Two-way center with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 4th/5th Round
29. C Sandro Schmid — Switzerland/Malmo J20 (Superelit)
Player Type: Two-way center with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 4th/5th Round
30. C/W Kristian Kovacik — Slovakia/Dukla Trencin U20 (Slovak Juniors)
Player Type: Skill center with Top-9 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 6th/7th Round
31. LHD Christian Krygier — USA/Lincoln Stars (USHL)
Player Type: Two-way defenseman with Top-4 upside
2018 Draft Projection: 4th/5th Round
