American Pipeline Player to Watch: Kyle Kukkonen Zach Benson of the Winnipeg ICE has improved his draft stock, according to Tony Ferrari. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0MDQ2MDQ0MjIzMzE3NTA5/nov17_vs_reg-8524.jpg] Zach Benson of the Winnipeg ICE has improved his draft stock, according to Tony Ferrari. The NHL draft is a multi-year process, with teams evaluating many of the players in the class from the time they are 16 years old or younger in some cases. Coming into any given draft cycle, NHL clubs have an idea of who sits near the top of the class and who needs to take a step to work their way into the conversation. As November comes to an end, we are starting to see some trends – both negatively and positively – in the scouting world. Some of the top names heading into the year have their stars fading while others are emerging from the pack as potential first-rounders. It’s time to look at the draft stock of a few of the players rising and falling among this year’s class. STOCK UP: LUCA PINELLI, RW, OTTAWA 67'S (OHL) In second in scoring among first-time draft eligibles in the OHL, Pinelli has shown the offensive skill needed to be a difference-maker and the fine details that are required to be relied upon in big moments. The 67's leading scorer has been doing the bulk of his damage with over 60 percent of his scoring at even strength. He has the agility to wade through space in the offensive zone undetected and the finishing ability to score from all over. Pinelli uses his teammates well, playing give-and-go’s or finding them in the slot with regularity. Pinelli isn’t being talked about as the top OHL prospect for this draft, but maybe he should be. STOCK DOWN: CAM ALLEN, RD, GUELPH STORM (OHL) After a season where he came close to 40 points as a first-year player in the OHL and being named captain of the Canadian squad at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in the summer, Allen was poised to have a big year and lock down the spot as the top blueline prospect for the 2023 NHL draft. To say that things haven’t gone his way would be an understatement thus far. Allen’s offensive game has lagged behind expectations, with 12 points through 23 games. The Guelph defender has followed suit with his club as they’ve struggled to start the year as well. Allen has the tools to turn things around, but he is going to need to get back on track soon or his fall down draft boards may be greater than anyone imagined when he had the ‘C’ on his Canadian jersey over the summer. STOCK UP: GAVIN BRINDLEY, RW, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (NCAA) Much of the attention on campus in Ann Arbor when the Wolverines take the ice is on Adam Fantilli, but Gavin Brindley has quite the solid season himself as a freshman in the NCAA. While his hot start has slowed down, he is still doing so many things to generate dangerous chances and force the opposing teams to play defense. The University of Michigan has been relying on Brindley to do a lot of the play driving for his line while taking on a more active role defensively and in transition. As of late, the biggest thing missing from Brindley’s game is the finish, clearly an important aspect but not the be-all and end-all in development. Brindley uses his speed, skill, and high motor to pressure and turn pucks over and then move them up ice. The offensive pop is coming because the process has been outstanding. STOCK DOWN: MATVEI MICHKOV, RW, SKA-NEVA ST. PETERSBURG (VHL) It’s not that Michkov has been bad. It’s certainly not even that his contract in Russia will keep him there for a couple of years after he’s drafted. The reason Michkov has fallen down the board a bit is that he is letting some bad habits and low-danger tendencies creep into his game. The young Russian is still scoring quite a bit, which is a great sign, but he is opting for so many low-danger shots from the boards or deciding to play on the perimeter without the urgency when it comes to attacking the middle. Michkov is undoubtedly one of the most talented players in his age group. He should and likely will be a top-five pick when the draft rolls around in June. He’s just slowly working himself out of the “top-two lock” conversation that made him the most likely to challenge Connor Bedard at No. 1. STOCK UP: ZACH BENSON, LW, WINNIPEG ICE (WHL) The 5-foot-10 forward has been one of the most skilled and entertaining prospects in a class full of skill and entertainment. His playmaking is divine, and his ability to read his opponents and take advantage of whatever weakness they present is incredible. Benson is such an intelligent presence on the ice with and without the puck, understanding spacing and how to wade through traffic better than just about anyone in the 2023 draft class. Benson’s passing touch is otherworldly, feathering saucer passes through traffic or zipping pinpoint bullets into the slot. He doesn’t need a ton of time or space with the puck as he can thread the needle with an effectiveness that could be unmatched in the class. Benson has been regularly in the top 15 on many boards, but he’s trending up and could reach top-five status quicker than anyone would have guessed. He is a cerebral presence in all situations. STOCK TO WATCH: CHARLIE CERRATO, LW, USA HOCKEY NATIONAL TEAM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (USHL) Every year, there is a player with the NTDP that plays primarily in the bottom six but could easily warrant minutes higher in the lineup. They do so many of the little things right, but their production lags behind a bit because of deployment or the quality of their linemates. This year, Charlie Cerrato could be that player. The young American is a high-motor forward who generates chances in the offensive zone with hard work and a deceptive amount of functional skill. He has good speed and uses it effectively in transition, using his crossovers and changes in pace. Cerrato needs to finish a bit more to truly get his stock up, but there is a lot that he is doing right. He could be one of the cheekier steals of the draft if his production doesn’t see an uptick.
