2017 NHL Draft
Mock Draft: Round 7 Picks 187-217 (May)
Timra’s Victor Brattstrom fought through the busiest workload in Sweden’s Superelit to rank among the leaders in save percentage.
Steve Kournianos | 5/28/2017 | New York | [hupso]
| Team | Pick | Player | Notes |
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187 | RW Carson Meyer (OA)
Miami-Ohio, NCAA 5’10, 180 | 08/18/97 |
Teams drafting in 2016 may have missed the boat on a talented overage winger like Meyer, who was huge in Tri-City’s Clark Cup win that season and earned an invite to the Columbus’s rookie camp prior to his first year of college. His freshman season at Miami was an absolute success as he placed third among draft eligibles with 10 goals — nine at 5v5 — and 26 points in 32 games. Maybe more impressive is that he did so despite battling mononucleosis. A native Ohioan with average speed but a devastatingly accurate shot, he can score goals from just about anywhere and has incredible hand-eye coordination. Meyer has the ability to thread the needle to for quality chances, competes hard, plays with enthusiasm and doesn’t take a shift off. His size (5’10, 180 pounds) shouldn’t be an issue since he’s an inside player who takes a hit to finish a play. |
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188 | G Antoine Samuel (OA)
Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL 6’3, 190 | 09/17/97 |
Samuel is an athletic butterfly goaltender who made the best out of a tough situation to be in. Not only did Samuel go undrafted in 2016, but the following season faced the prospect of backstopping a young, inexperienced Baie-Comeau squad. Nevertheless, things turned out fine, as Samuel, although seeing a QMJHL-high 1639 shots, led the Drakkar to a postseason berth. Additionally, he posted a .915 save percentage from late November until season’s end — a total of 33 appearances. He was far more composed than last year, showing more quickness and better control of both his glove and blocker saves. Samuel doesn’t leave much room upstairs when he’s hugging the post, and his side-to-side quickness when coupled with his length makes him tough to beat on cross-mouth feeds. Samuel has an active stick and likes to handle the puck, he’s just not very good at it. |
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189 | C Zach Gallant
Peterborough Petes, OHL 6’2, 188 | 03/06/99 |
Two-way power center who was a critical role player for Peterborough during its playoffs run. Gallant is a character guy who plays in all situations, but he was effective enough to occasionally land on the top line of a strong team. He checks a lot of blocks in terms of physical play, hockey sense, positioning, vision, etc., but his hunched, plodding skating style makes it seem like he’s got a 150-pound ruck on his back. Gallant has a very hard shot and a quick release, but he can score from dirty areas as well. He’s very active on the penalty kill and will make proper reads to steer shots wide rather than give up his body for a block near the blue line. There’s some Brian Boyle to his game, but Boyle was a better skater at this stage of his development, which tells you what Gallant needs to continue to work on. A kid like Gallant may have been a lottery pick in 1998 or 2002, but he provides so much in intangibles and goal scoring that even in a fast-paced environment he’s worth a look. |
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190 | C Macauley Carson
Sudbury Wolves, OHL 6’1, 205 | 03/12/99 |
Strong forward with size but below-average speed who led all OHL first-year eligibles with a ridiculous 5v5 shooting percentage of 24.2 (23 goals on 95 shots). Carson is a two-way power forward who obviously knows how to finish, especially in front of the net where he maintains a low center of gravity. Carson is thick, stocky and painfully slow, and he wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire in the faceoff circle (48%). Nonetheless, he’s a possession driver and a good team-first guy who uses his physical strength to outmuscle most that try to stop him. Put him in front of the net on the power play, trust him with offensive zone starts and rely on him to kill penalties. Not too much to ask from a guy that can finish but otherwise destined for the later rounds. |
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191* | RHD Phil Kemp
U.S. U18, NTDP 6’3, 202 | 03/12/99 |
Steady, physical defenseman with decent vision and mobility but likely top out as a bottom-pairing support guy. Kemp has pretty soft hands for a big blueliner, and he can make subtle, accurate bank or saucer passes to catch teammates in stride. I wouldn’t go as far as to call him poised because he can be sloppy managing the puck, but he recovers quickly and maintains a tight gap. He’s more successful using his brain to read plays and his feet to close and seal rather than outskating someone in a 50/50 battles. Kemp, who switched Ivy League commitments from Brown to Yale, has an above-average shot with a big wind-up. |
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192 | RW Hunter Johannes (OA)
Eden Prairie, HS-MN 6’3,194 | 07/24/98 |
Expected to be one of the top power forwards in high school hockey, Johannes played an important role in Eden Prairie’s success by driving their second line in support of Casey Mittelstadt’s top unit. A tough out in the mold of John Leclair or Milan Lucic, Johannes had his way with high school opponents by wearing them down while maintaining control of the puck. He teamed with Mittelstadt on the power play, but when they mostly were split up at even strength. Johannes proved he could control play on his own and did not require his center to make things happen. He’s an average skater but rather quick to the net via direct routes. Johannes isn’t just a one-way forward — he kills penalties and can be trusted late in games because of how easy it is for him to separate opponents from the puck. He has an excellent wrist shot that he fires through traffic, but he passes up far too many prime opportunities for a lower percentage play. If he was a solid playmaker, this would be fine. But simplifying his game just to shooting and scoring goals would make him all the more dangerous. |
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193 | RHD Brady Lyle
North Bay Battalion, OHL 6’1, 203 | 06/06/99 |
A poised defender with good wheels who carries the puck with speed and flair, Lyle was North Bay’s lead guy on the power play and showed occasional flashes of brilliance. Although he isn’t a commanding presence on the ice, Lyle can advance the puck either by outracing his forechecker or faking his way through bodies as he crosses center. His play below his own circles is marginal at best, as he isn’t physical enough to win battles clean, relying too much on stick work, albeit in a clean, disciplined manner. Lyle is pretty reliable on the attack and makes good decisions in terms of spotting and hitting the teammate with a step on his man. An undervalued aspect of his game is the way he correctly chooses when to overload the strong side for puck support or stay wide enough to spread the defenders out. His zone entries are generally clean, plus his shot, although average, is accurate and released quickly. More than half of his points came with the man advantage, but North Bay struggled generating anything on offense and lacked finishers. |
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194 | G Victor Brattstrom (OA)
Timra J20, Superelit 6’5, 201 | 03/22/97 |
Ask enough questions around Swedish hockey circles, and you’ll hear Brattstrom’s name come up every now and again. He was the heart and soul of a Timra J20 squad that simply could not score, and far more often than not, Brattstrom found himself defending either a tie score or a one-goal differential going either way. The Superlit is not an offense-heavy league, and Brattstrom led all goalies by facing an average of 30 shots per appearance. He was formerly property of Frolunda but moved over to Timra, where this season he was one of the top goalies in the Superelit. He is your typical Swedish butterfly goalie, spending a lot of time covering the lower half and gluing himself no more than a foot beyond the goal line. At 6’5, he has no problem tracking pucks from their release point with chaos ensuing in front of him. His initial-shot net coverage is excellent, as is his post-save reset. His glove and blocker hands are quick, but like most backstops that play deep in the crease, he can get burned over either shoulder. |
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195* | LW/C Jan Kern
Sparta Prague U20, Extraliga Jrs 5’10, 178 | 07/27/99 |
Slick 200-foot player who plays like he’s three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. Kern has an assortment of ways to beat you — speed, vision, smarts, hands — and is a threat to create a quality chance any time he’s on the ice. He scored in his Extraliga debut but spent most of the season split between the junior and U18 squads. Kern is a dangerous penalty killer with excellent anticipation of plays, and it takes little to no effort for him to separate himself from opponents who were sloppy with their puck management. He has a hard, accurate shot but also possesses a neat backhand. He may look small and skinny, but good luck trying to knock him off the puck. Kern loves to battle in the corners and will fight for positioning in front of the net. |
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196 | RHD Tory Dello (OA)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA 6’0, 190 | 02/14/97 |
Mean, physical defender who was thrust onto the national stage when his Notre Dame Fighting Irish made the Frozen Four. Mind you, it was less than a year after Dello guided the Tri-City Storm to a league championship. Playing under intense pressure doesn’t seem to rattle this Illinois native, who as a freshman was one of college hockey’s most penalized freshman but still was entrusted with late-game scenarios. He’s neither fast nor creative, but Dello boasts a heavy shot that he likes to use often — his 80 shots in 40 games was good for third among freshman blueliners. He is relentless during board battles and refuses to concede an inch of territory. Obviously, doing this in a legal manner most of the time will only enhance his NHL chances. |
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197* | RW Jakub Pour
Plzen 1929, Extraliga Jrs 6’3, 187 | 04/24/99 |
Power forward with soft hands and decent wheels who was a depth player for the Czech Republic at several international events but was kept off the roster for both the Hlinka and U18 worlds. Pour is a crease crasher who uses brute strength to overpower defenders of all shapes and sizes. He was relegated to a depth role during Plzen’s run to a Extraliga Juniors title, but he was averaging close to a point per game in the regular season while shuttling between the second and third lines. He kills penalties on occasion and positions himself properly in the defensive zone. Pour is inconsistent in using his size and strength to overpower smaller players, and there are times he doesn’t look all that engaged. Still, he’s a worthy project pick and CHL Import Draft candidate when you take into consideration his size and touch around the net. |
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198 | RW Luke Boka
Windsor Spitfires, OHL 6’0, 191 | 06/12/99 |
Boka is an aggressive power winger with size and a good understanding of the game. He’s the type of player who makes the most of his opportunities and would put up better numbers had he not been blocked by Windsor’s deep array of offensive firepower. Boka anchored Windsor’s top penalty killing unit and doesn’t stop moving while feverishly waving his stick like a scythe. Once he gets control of the puck, he’s strong enough to not only stay balanced and ward off defenders, but also get a shot on net as he’s hounded. He’s strong on his skates but isn’t all that fast, but rarely does Boka come across as out of control or fumbling around with the puck. All things considered, he had a strong pre-draft season — 26 of his 28 points came at 5v5 and he finished 30th among all OHL first-year eligible forwards with a 1.80 eG/60. |
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199 | LHD Calle Sjalin
Leksand, Allsvenskan 6’1, 179 | 09/02/99 |
Quick two-way blueliner who makes smart pinches and plays aggressive thanks to his speed and confidence controlling the puck. He isn’t that big of a playmaker and his shot is average, but Sjalin makes sound decisions in all three zones and can be trusted to initiate a breakout. He keeps his stick on the ice to close a passing lane and he keeps his body far enough from his goalie but close enough to his man. Sjalin likes to battle, but not at the expense of vacating his slot responsibilities. His head is on enough of a swivel to react quickly to a struggling partner behind the net, but rarely does he leave his side completely unattended. His D-to-D passing is crisp, accurate and done in a variety of ways — off the boards, lobs, saucers off the backhand — and Sjalin doesn’t force passes in a lazy manner that will end up trapping teammates. He’s a quick but smart defender who doesn’t get too crazy with the puck but is capable of kickstarting odd-man rushes with stretch passes or his own wheels. |
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200 | G Alex D’Orio
Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL 6’3, 204 | 04/28/99 |
Getting the chance to develop with a Memorial Cup contender in front of you helped D’Orio compile good looking stats — he went 19-4-0 and tied for second in the QMJHL with a 2.40 goal-against average. A deeper look, however, revealed an light workload and a lot of run support, as D’Orio’s season high for shots faced was 30 and was handed sizeable leads early. While you can’t blame D’Orio for what amounted to a plum job, he did his job by stopping the puck and maintaining his composure. He relies on tracking, positioning and reads more than quickness and flexibility, and his silhouette can be intimidating to shooters, especially if they get in deep as his net awareness while moving laterally is very good. |
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201 | RW Kirill Maksimov
Niagara Ice Dogs, OHL 6’2, 192 | 06/01/99 |
Excitable scoring winger who was a model of inconsistency until a midseason trade from Saginaw to Niagara, where he scored 19 goals in 33 combined games between the regular season and playoffs. He’s big, fast and owns a wonderful set of hands, and there are times where he is easily the most noticeable and unstoppable player on the ice. Maksimov is a hard shooter who doesn’t need the puck to be settled to get maximum velocity on his shot, and giving him a small window of opportunity is a recipe for disaster. He’s also pretty good around the cage and will release the puck to a open linemate at the very last second. Maksimov by all accounts is a very hard worker and never looks lazy or disinterested, but he plays on the outside and isn’t as physically engaged as a teenager with his build should be. His skill set screams future NHL scorer, but take his second-half surge with a grain of salt. |
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202 | RHD Tommy Miller
U.S. U18, NTDP 6’2, 181 | 03/06/99 |
Miller is as textbook as they come when sealing off an oncoming opponents into a helpless situation. He is neither mean nor intimidating, but rubbing out his man with authority is something you rarely see in a fleet-footed defenseman. Miller was excellent for Team USA back in November at the U18 Five Nations in Plymouth, and you can argue that he outplayed notable teammates Max Gildon and Tyler Inamoto for the better part of the season. Miller has a hard, accurate shot and is a capable support option on a power play, but his footwork and defensive prowess are two things that will serve him well when he makes his NCAA debut next season with Michigan State. Opponents generally have find difficulty in getting around him, and Miller strong enough to one-arm shove onrushing forwards off the puck. |
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203 | RW Jack Adams (OA)
Fargo Force, USHL 6’5, 190 | 02/05/97 |
Adams is a hard-working power winger who as a draft+1 overager led the USHL in goal scoring with 37 goals — 21 during 5v5 — in 56 games. Committed to Union College, Adams improved both his straight-line speed and takeoff to augment an already impressive package of size and strength. He has excellent hands, especially around the net, and he was consistent in his ability to get quality chances despite being surrounded by opponents. Adams is an absolute terror in front of the net, and goalies close to 6’3 or 6’4 had difficulty tracking pucks any time he occupied the low slot. You can see the exhaustion in the faces of opponent to try to battle him one-on-one, and sooner or later Adams’s vision and playmaking will improve enough to make teams pay for double teaming him. |
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204 | RW/C Nick Swaney
Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL 5’10, 175 | 09/09/97 |
Double-overage playmaker with explosive, top-end speed and a hard, accurate shot. The stats say Swaney didn’t take the kind of leap worthy enough to get picked in his third look, but his committment and effort towards improving his defenisve game was apparent from early in the season. He was a very good penalty killer along with linemate Shane Bowers, and the duo fed off each other by pressing puck carriers, reading plays and staying active away from the puck. Swaney is deadly on the power play and will shoot off the pass with accuracy. He’s a Minnesota native committed to Minnesota-Duluth. |
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205 | LHD Clayton Phillips
Fargo Force, USHL 5’10, 182 | 09/09/99 |
Fast two-way blueliner who made the USHL All-Rookie team after an impressive all-around season for Fargo. Phillips makes carrying the puck look effortless as he possesses a smooth stride and covers a lot of ground with just a few strides. He’s capable of running a power play and make controlled entries, but once inside the zone he keeps moving and gets as far down as the goal line in order to keep a play alive. He can be considered a playmaker with good vision, but he also owns a very hard, accurate shot with a rapid release. In terms of defending, Phillips improved his stick work, which when combined with his quickness makes it difficult for opponents to control the puck or blow past him. He uses his stick with purpose, swatting away pucks as attackers near the low slot. Phillips missed eligibility for the 2018 draft by just seven days and his youth and lack of upper-body strength shows when he’s faced with battles for positioning. Phillips has a commitment to the University of Minnesota and is expected to begin his collegiate career in 2018-19. |
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206 | LHD Malte Setkov
Malmo J20, Superelit 6’4, 185 | 08/20/99 |
Massive Danish stay-at-home defender with developing offensive abilities beyond his hard, accurate shot. Setkov can play either the left or right side and is quite elusive for his size thanks to a decent first step. He can be patient with the puck and not get frazzled in the face of multiple forecheckers, and on occasion will spin away from pressure and move up ice, plus he’s an excellent outlet passer who keeps his head up and can split the zones with accuracy. Setkov finishes his checks and is tough to slip away from while he’s pinning opponents, but he also knows when to release. He doesn’t play on the power play but is useful on the penalty kill since he is instinctive enough to make the right reads while strong enough to keep the low slot clear. Setkov is very agile and uses his footwork and a massive reach to make it next to impossible to beat him cleanly to the outside. He plays a clean, disciplined game. |
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207 | LHD Dalimil Mikyska
Kometa Brno, Extraliga 6’1, 200 | 08/16/99 |
Mikyska is a skilled two-way defenseman with a strong grasp of what his responsibilities are in all three zones. He is a physical blueliner who finishes his checks and can assume a top-pairing role with aplomb for the way he reads plays and quickly covers up for the few mistakes he makes. Mikyska has very good first-step quickness and uses it to avoid forecheckers, firing off hard, accurate breakout passes without hesitation while gaining a foot or more of separation. You get the sense that he has eyes on both the side and back of his head, especially with the man advantage where his actions are timed and seemingly well-prepared. Mikyska has a powerful shot and plays the point on the power play, but he likes to dart into openings from the circles on down in order to increase the likelihood of success. He won’t generate offense with creativity and flair, but his puck management is advanced for a teenager still under the age of 18. |
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208 | RHD Oliver Larssen
Leksand J20, Superelit 6’3, 205 | 12/25/98 |
Mobile two-way defenseman capable of quarterbacking a power play and effectively breaking out of his own end. Larssen has excellent mobility for a defender his size and is poised with the puck, using his size, balance and reach to fend aggressive forecheckers. He uses the boards and the back of his own net to his advantage, reversing and changing direction to gain valuable seconds. Larssen is most certainly a risk taker, however, and he needs to improve the timing of both his pinches and releases. He can be guilty of forcing passes into traffic without being pressed, and he looks more comfortable with a man in his face than he does with boat loads of time. Larssen can be depended on to seal off or tie up his man as they move from a board battle to the slot. |
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209 | RW Alexander Pavlenko
Avto, MHL 6’4, 192 | 04/11/99 |
Big power forward who is a very good stickhandler and make neat plays from inside the hash marks. He’s got a quick shot/release combination, and he doesn’t struggle hammering passes that are rolling, in his skates or behind him. Pavlenko is strong at protecting the puck and maintains control as he cuts back or spins away from pressure. Having a size advantage and long stuck helps him control and create off the cycle, and he has a tendency to lure extra opponents away from their position. He may be big, but Pavlenko consistently slips away from detection near the crease area. |
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210 | C Andrei Svetlakov (OA)
CSKA, KHL 6’0, 202 | 04/06/96 |
Svetlakov is an exceptional two-way forward whose play as a triple overager in the KHL confirmed how physically and mentally ready he is to play against the best players in the world. He’s highly competitive and spends every shift battling and fighting until he has possession of the puck. Svetlakov has average speed but he’s very strong on his skates and can power through checks and maintain possession of the puck. He’ll score a lot of dirty goals, but you have to pay attention when he’s killing penalties as he’s shown to make proper reads and quickly transition from defense to offense. There isn’t a team in the NHL that can’t use a strong two-way forward who plays a 200-foot game and can win big faceoffs — Svetlakov won 57 percent of his draws this year. |
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211* | LHD Max Martin
Prince Albert Raiders, WHL 6’0, 188 | 07/25/99 |
Traded from a contender in Prince George to a doormat in Prince Albert had a silver lining for Martin, in that he was given more ice time to showcase his two-way abilities. A mobile, aggressive blueliner who skates well and likes to play physical, Martin’s skating — forwards, backwards or laterally — looks appealing to the eye, and uses his leg strength to close quickly on opponents, sometimes in the form of a crushing hit. He’s smart with the puck and will utilize all areas of the rink — boards, glass, the back of his net — to move the puck safely. Martin is quite strong and rarely gets overworked or outmuscled during board play. He steps up or pinches at the right time, and he maintains a tight gap. Everything he does is pretty loud, and simply sealing off a guy isn’t enough. Most plays involving Martin end in an exclamation point, and he seems to have fully recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him out for most of 2016. |
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212* | C Aarnie Talvitie
Blues U20, Jr. A SM-Liiga 5’10, 198 | 02/11/99 |
A feisty, hard-working forward who skates well and boasts a very good shot, especially off the pass. The versatile Talvitie is a jack-of-all trades who can be utilized on the power play or penalty kill. His shot/release combo is his bread and butter, but he’s a smart player in the defensive zone, using quick feet and formidable upper-body strength to lean on puck possessors and finish them with clean checks. Talvitie also can pass the puck and make tape-to-tape connections off the rush. His strong performance (7 points in 7 games) as Finland’s second line center at the U18 worlds should boost his draft stock, but he already distinguished himself at previous international events and in the regular season for Blues Jrs. |
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213 | RW Alexander Polunin (OA)
Lokomotiv, KHL 5’9, 172 | 05/25/97 |
Undersized winger with a good stick and wicked shot who is the lone undrafted member of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s “Kid Line”. Playing alongside center Pavel Kraskovsy (Winnipeg) and Yegor Korshkov (Toronto), Polunin was fourth on the squad with nine goals, playing third line minutes and sparingly used on the power play. He makes up for a non-existent defensive game with very good puck skills and a heady approach to playmaking. As small as he is, Polunin is always around the net and has great hands to finish from in tight. |
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214* | RHD Scooter Brickey
Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL 6’3, 193 | 05/27/99 |
Brickey is a big-bodied shutdown defender with average speed who seems to thrive when his team is trapped and scurrying around their own end. Some might say he’s not doing that great of a job if he’s spending so much time defending, but he led (unofficially) all first-year draft eligible defensemen with a GF%Rel of 20.8. He has the upside a top-pairing shutdown type who will cover up for the mistakes or gaps created by a puck-rushing partner. A sound one-on-one defender who knows how to properly release if he opts to chase an opponent behind the net, Brickey plays with his head up and effectively uses the boards to evade pressure, and his intentions are rarely telegraphed as he consistently connects on difficult break-out passes. |
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215* | C/W Bobby Dow
Kemptville 73’s, CCHL 6’1, 171 | 11/05/98 |
Power forward with a commitment to Mercyhurst who plays a tenacious game yet has the skills to make a significant contribution offensively. Dow is a very good skater with strong lateral mobility and enough breakaway speed to avoid the pursuit of defenders. He’s strong on the puck and doesn’t like to give it up, and at times can hang on to the disc for what seems like an entire shift. Dow is uber-confident once a lane opens and will take direct routes to the net with strength and determination. He protects the puck quite well, keeping his head up and looking for multiple options but confident enough to make high-percentage plays on his own. Dow is a physical player who likes to throw his body around and make sound, clean open-ice hits. He uses his upper-body strength to separate opponents from the puck, something that serves him well on the penalty kill. Dow uses his physicality to change momentum and make statements, and at worst he will top out as a skilled two-way energy player who can moonlight as a top-six power forward. |
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216 | G Anton Krasotkin (OA)
HK Ryazan, VHL 6’0, 179 | 05/20/97 |
In a perfect world, being named MHL playoff MVP would trump half a game’s worth of shaky goaltending in this year Canada-Russia Super Series. One can only hope that whatever misgivings grew from Krasotkin’s performance in what essentially is an exhibition didn’t hurt his reputation in scouting circles. His phenomenal performance in the Russia junior league postseason was followed by a solid showing in Russia’s VHL and he even earned a brief KHL call-up for the second straight season. Krasotkin has quick reflexes, reads plays extremely well and is rarely caught out of position. Playing too deep in the crease burned him during the CHL Series, so improving his stick work and interdicting passes should be an offseason focus. |
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217 | LHD Anton Bjorkman
Dynamo-SPB, MHL 5’11, 168 | 05/13/99 |
Bjorkman is one of Sweden’s top amateur defenseman who is entrusted with significant in-game situations. He can play on both the power play and on the penalty kill with effectiveness, but it’s the way he maintains a tight gap and wields an active stick while exuding the characteristics of a puck mover that makes us think his top-four upside is legitimate. Bjorkman is summoned for the tough assignments and plays poised under pressure, but he also possesses offensive capabilities such as making accurate home-run passes and skating the puck deep into the opposing zone. He is an above-average skater and owns a very good shot, and on occasion will drop down between the circles to maximize his shot opportunities. |
