Every year, prospects get passed over in the NHL draft. Rachel Doerrie looks at 10 players who could get their name called this year.
Every year after the NHL draft, there are players that go undrafted that the public believes should have found a home. Working for a team last year, I felt that way, too. But things do not always go as planned, and kids who likely deserve to be drafted, aren’t.
Here are 10 players who weren’t drafted last summer that could be taken this June.
Rodwin Dionicio, D, Windsor (OHL)
Dionicio was part of a strong OHL class last year but was passed over in part because his play suffered on a weak Niagara team. After a trade to Windsor this season, Dionicio came alive with 43 points in 33 games and has played some games at forward with Shane Wright.
His feet prevent him from making the plays he sees with his high-end hockey sense, which is clearly NHL-level. His versatility makes him interesting, but the defensive deficiencies that stem from getting beaten by better skaters give scouts pause. He is someone that could blossom with significant skating work, as the brain and physicality have the makings of a bottom-of-the-lineup identity player.
Kocha Delic, C, Sudbury (OHL)
After a good U-18s last year, Delic went undrafted and has continued positive play this season. He was consistently one of Sudbury’s best forwards, outplaying Musty on numerous occasions.
His vision and abilities to manipulate defenders and create space make up for his lack of speed. He supports the puck well, makes sound decisions in all areas of the ice and is a nice fit with offensive players who like to carry the puck. He is one of those players that doesn’t wow you with his speed or skill, but skill players love playing with him because he wins more than his fair share of battles. There are transferable skills to be a playmaker in the NHL if he improves his skating.
Egor Sidorov, LW, Sasktaoon (WHL)
The Belarusian-born forward more than doubled his production in the WHL this season, nearly notching 1.5 points per game compared to last season’s 0.6 points per game. He’s a raw talent with quite a few NHL-quality tools that give him a puncher’s chance at the NHL level if they are refined.
A volume shooter with a pump-fake style release allows him to beat goalies clean at the junior level. He’s able to create space for himself with his puck skills but struggles to take advantage of the space due to average skating and hockey sense. In a strict system with lots of development work, he may turn into a depth player as he benefits from structure. The offensive talent is there, and he’s a late-bloomer candidate if he can improve his skating to take advantage of his NHL-caliber shot and puck skills. With such a raw talent, he could be a target in the late rounds for a team that believes it can unlock his potential.
Beau Jelsma, C, Barrie (OHL)
Jelsma is one of the best overagers in this draft, and it was quite surprising that he was passed up last summer. He’s got all the makings of a fourth-line identity player. His motor is top-end, always pushing the pace on the forecheck and never cheating on the backcheck. He consistently drives to the middle and finds himself in the scoring area at the net front.
He lacks a separating skill, but he makes up for it with his work ethic and details. The upside is not there the way it is with other players, but he is a high-floor, low-ceiling player who earns the trust of his coaches and plays in all the important situations.
Tomas Suchanek, G, Tri-City (WHL)
He probably warrants a lot based on his incredible international performance, but a lot of scouts have time for the body of work. His ability to make timely saves and allow his team to pressure the puck up ice was a key reason for Czechia’s success. His mental strength and overall conditioning stand out as key attributes to scouts. He’s not overly aggressive, which gets him beaten to the glove more than it should, but he moves with control and does not lose his net.
There is a lot to like about Suchanek, and given that goaltenders develop more slowly than skaters, it is reasonable to believe a team sees his raw size and mental strength as enough to warrant a late-round selection.
Attilio Biasca, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)
The Swiss captain of the Halifax Mooseheads took a major step forward in production this season, nearly tripling last season’s output. He was a good skater in his draft year but is now one of the best skaters in every game he plays. He consistently attacks defenders, pushing them back with his speed to attack the scoring area.
He lacks the playmaking ability to capitalize on the space he creates with his speed, but his passing game has taken positive steps this season. His skating and overall puckhandling skill are his calling cards, but a team with a strong development program may be able to develop him into an effective forechecker at the NHL level.
Hudson Thornton, D, Prince George (WHL)
Thornton has taken major development steps this season with his puck play and was rewarded with a solid offensive season from the back end. A small defenseman, he shows patience with the puck, delays to create passing lanes and shoulder checks on retrievals to put himself in positions to break the puck out effectively.
His best attribute is his hockey sense but is average in other areas, which is a concern as a smaller defenseman. He defends well, maintains a good gap and doesn’t allow forwards to attack effectively off the rush. Offensive upside is a concern as smaller defenders struggle in the NHL, but his tools and development curve warrant a late-round draft selection.
Thomas Milic, G, Seattle (WHL)
The owner of the WHL’s top save percentage and backstopper of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Milic is small by scout standards, but he’s made it hard to ignore his abilities. He’s structured and crisp in his crease movements, has strong rebound control and a demonstrated ability to stay mentally sharp throughout the game.
Milic’s positioning and crease movement allow him to play bigger than he is, challenging shooters without over-committing. While his size may be a concern, his mental game and raw technical skill make him an intriguing project for a team who may be able to capitalize on a goalie who is a bit of a late bloomer, all things considered. Playing behind a strong team will give scouts pause, but consecutive seasons with a save percentage above .910 and a world juniors gold medal should earn him a selection in June.
Gabriel Szturc, C, Kelowna (WHL)
Without a doubt, the biggest riser and overage player with the most intrigue this season. A strong season where he produced well over a point per game in a key role for Kelowna, combined with a solid world juniors performance, has earned him the hype. Szturc is a smaller center who is a nightmare on the forecheck with his anticipation and tenacity. He wins races to pucks, closes on opponents quickly and can shoot the puck well. His leap forward this season quelled the concerns about his offensive tools and makes him a mid-round target for teams this summer.
William Proos, LW, Almtuna (Allsvenskan)
Proos is a big left winger who uses his size and strength to protect pucks well and generate offense. He lit up the J20 Region league last season and was productive at the Allsvenskan level as a draft-eligible.
As a late 2003 birthday, he is one of the oldest players in this draft. This season, he scored 28 points in 20 games in the J20 National and put up similar numbers to last season in the Allsvenskan. While the stagnation in production is cause for concern, he is someone who has a solid frame, uses his strength well, and has been effective in a professional men’s league. He’s a long shot, who’s likely a seventh-rounder, but more than a few teams had interest last summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team takes a shot on a big power forward later in the draft.