The other day, I went through the first half of this year’s Top 25 Under 25. There was significant turnover from last year, which is expected given the trade deadline and five first round picks in the past two years. Now it’s time to go through the top half of the list, which has a good amount of guys you expect, but perhaps some surprises in order.
13. Anthony DeAngelo – Defense, trade from Arizona (LY:9)
I can’t seem to get the numbering right on this. I ended the post with #13 on the list, but DeAngelo is also #13 because I, for some reason, had a pair of #19s in Sean Day and Patrik Virta. I read good.
Before getting into DeAngelo, let it be known that I am evaluating DeAngelo the hockey player, and nothing else. He’s a polarizing prospect because of his past on and off ice issues and his political preferences. That is not what I am analyzing, and I will delete any comments that discuss it. This is not a politics blog.
DeAngelo had what can only be described as a disappointing season last year. He made the team out of camp, only to be scarcely used before being returned to Hartford. Discouraged, DeAngelo had an attitude issue before finally putting his emotions aside. He finished his Hartford stint strong, ending with a line of 2-11-13 before being recalled again.
DeAngelo is an all offense, defensively suspect defenseman. I’m willing to bet that a simpler system plays to his strengths though. If he can put the defensive part of his game together, he could be something special. But that is a big IF for him as he enters a critical season in his development. Without a giant step forward in production and defensive play, he will be passed by players with far less skill.
Make no doubt, DeAngelo is supremely talented. It’s why he’s ranked higher than guys like Neal Pionk. His ceiling is sky high. But time is running out. However if you pair him properly, you might get the best out of him…
12. Libor Hajek – Defense, trade with Tampa Bay (LY: NR)
Hajek was specifically targeted by the Rangers at the trade deadline because of his solid Wold Junior showing. He’s a solid defensive player with the skating and agility you want to see from a legit prospect. He’s overall very steady, which is both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. He is never going to wow you offensively, and his upside on the scoreboard is limited. That instantly limits his ceiling.
That said, he’s steady and he’s a truck in his own zone. He has great gap control, goes to the corner, and makes a good first pass for zone exits. The Rangers need players like him, who can transition the play to offense. His positioning is solid as well. Those skills alone make him a valuable asset. I’d like to see more offense out of him, but if he can be steady in his own zone, that’s good enough for me.
He might complement DeAngelo pretty well on the ice. See what I did there?
11. Yegor Rykov – Defense, trade with New Jersey (LY: NR)
The Rangers fleeced the Devils in that Michael Grabner trade. Rykov is easily my favorite defenseman acquired at the deadline. Like Hajek, he’s not going to wow you. He’s a good skater with good gap control and positioning. In the defensive end, he’s much like Hajek.
What makes Rykov the better prospect, at least in my opinion, is that he can also drive offense. He is so smart on the ice, with great vision. That makes him an asset on breakouts, zone exits, and potentially on the powerplay. His ceiling is a more offensively talented Hajek.
10. Alex Georgiev – Goalie, undrafted free agent (LY: NR)
The biggest jumper this year is Georgiev, who went from unranked to top ten. Thrust into the backup role when Ondrej Pavelec went down, Georgiev went from mediocre AHL numbers (2.98 GAA, .909 SV%) to backing up Henrik Lundqvist. It was not an easy jump, but luckily for Georgiev he was used to playing with defensive tire fires in front of him. The Pack and the Rangers were atrocious on defense, but Georgiev posted a .918 SV% with the Rangers in 10 games.
It’s not the stats that jump out at you though. It’s the way Georgiev played the position. He was rarely out of position, he seemed calm and posed in net. He made difficult saves look easy, and he moved well from post to post. The best goalies are the ones that don’t need to make ridiculous saves, and Georgiev is one of those kids. He’d be the best goalie in the system, if not for some kid from Russia.
9. Brett Howden – Forward, trade with Tampa Bay (LY: NR)
I guess I’ve been sleeping on Howden, and I really shouldn’t be. The book on Howden is that his hockey IQ is off the charts, which leads to a solid two-way game. He’s a battler too, so you’re never going to see him take a shift off. His line of 24-51-75 in 49 WHL games shows he can score with the best of them as well.
Howden’s scouting report reminds me a lot of Derek Stepan, however there are differences. First and foremost, Howden has size and is a lefty. But aside from that, they are pretty similar. Look for Howden to play a solid game in all three zones. For him to use his size most efficiently though, he will need to put on some muscle. That’s not unheard of for a 20 year old though.
A nice little nugget: He was Moose Jaw’s captain at 18 years old, and kept the C throughout his tenure. The former first round pick is someone that his team rallies around. Don’t make the same mistake I did, and don’t sleep on this kid.
8. Nils Lundkvist – Defense, 2018 first round pick (LY: NR)
The streak of newbies to the Top 25 Under 25 continues with Lundkvist. I reserve the right to accidentally spell his name as Lundqvist, because habit.
Lundkvist is your typical Swede. He’s not flashy. He won’t wow you. But boy is he solid and all around great. He is a tremendous skater and passer, making one of his strengths zone exits. He’s comfortable skating or passing the puck out of the zone. He doesn’t panic with the puck either, sometimes waiting until the last second before finding the right outlet with the puck. He did all this as a 17 year old in the SHL. That’s a kid playing in a men’s league.
What might limit Lundkvist’s ceiling is his offensive potential. He’s got time to develop offensively, and we should probably expect him to spend the next few years continuing his strong play in the SHL. He is entering his age-18 season now. I’m very intrigued to see how he does as he gets bigger, stronger, and more seasoned. He’s just overall solid and a great pick at the end of the first round.
7. K’Andre Miller – Defense, 2018 first round pick (LY: NR)
One of the last newbies to the list is the second of the three first rounders from this year. A new convert to defense, Miller is a specimen. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s skilled, he’s smart, he’s got character, and he’s a worker. Imagine Chris Kreider, but on defense.
He has tremendous offensive potential, and despite being a recent convert to defense, he doesn’t look lost at the position. He’s obviously a great skater, and uses it to close gaps very well. In time, he will learn defensive reads and positioning a bit better. This is why he’s a bit of a project, but he’s a potentially elite project. That’s my kind of prospect. If he puts it all together, he’s top pairing material.
6. Brady Skjei – Defense, 2012 first round pick (LY: 2)
Skjei drops from 2 to 6, but not because of his rough year. He drops because the development of the kids in front of him. Skjei is still a top-four defenseman. He’s got a brand spanking new contract to show for it as well.
Skjei’s contract is a bit risky because of that rough year, but that doesn’t mean the talent isn’t there. He’s still a smooth skating kid with great vision, a solid first pass, and a kid that can run a powerplay. These kids aren’t a dime a dozen. Expect Skjei to rebound and have a monster year, with increased playing time in all situations.
5. Lias Andersson – Forward, 2017 first round pick (LY: 6)
Andersson went from possible reach to almost sure-fire middle six center. Andersson’s desire to win was showcased at the World Juniors, when he threw his silver medal in the stands after losing the gold medal game. I’ll take that passion all day, everyday.
As for the talent, he’s not elite but he’s still great. Andersson has elite level hockey IQ and an upper level skill set to go with it. He was a top-six forward in the SHL, playing against former NHLers and putting up points.
His biggest weakness is that he’s not necessarily an elite talent in any particular area. It will limit his ceiling, potentially holding him back from a top line spot. But he’s already been pegged as the future captain. I’ll take that.
4. Igor Shestyorkin – Goalie, 2014 4th round pick (LY: 4)
The future in net, Shestyorkin took another big step forward this year in the KHL. His stat line last year was ridiculous, going 20-4-4 with a 1.69 GAA and a .933 SV%, and those numbers are actually worse than his 2016-2017 campaign. This kid is going to be the next starting goaltender in New York.
The numbers are no mirage either. He has elite level conditioning and athleticism. His positioning is also elite, which makes his recovery and dealing with rebounds and prime chances potentially elite as well.
This will be Shestyorkin’s final year in Russia. He has big expectations, and appears to have the mindset to deal with it.
3. Vitali Kravtsov – Forward, 2018 1st round pick (LY: NR)
Kravtsov will forever be linked to Oliver Wahlstrom in the minds of Ranger fans. While it is ok to be disappointed the Rangers passed on Wahlstrom, don’t let it skew how awesome Kravtsov is.
Kravtsov, believe it or not, has the higher ceiling than Wahlstrom. The Russian winger has elite level skating, hands, shooting, and puck handling skills. His hockey IQ is also off the charts, making him dangerous when he has the puck. He exploded onto the KHL scene in the playoffs, putting up 6-5-11 in 13 games in a bigger role than he had in the regular season.
Kravtsov is a shooter, and uses his elite speed to blow by defenders for zone entries and chances. He has great vision, but he’s still going to be looking to shoot.
Kravtsov will spend one more year in the KHL, and he is expected to put up number similar to some other big Russian prospects (Tarasenko, Buchnevich, Kuznetsov).
2. Filip Chytil – Forward, 2017 1st round pick (LY: 7)
Like Kravtsov, Chytil has a ridiculous ceiling. We have seen flashes of it from last season at the NHL level, but even when he was sent to Hartford he put up 11-20-31 in 46 games. Simply put, he is probably ready for the NHL after that dominating stint in the AHL.
Chytil has elite level skill and speed that makes him as difficult, if not more difficult, to deal with than Kravtsov. He’s a difference maker when he’s on the ice. If he can take over the game more consistently, he’s going to be that elite 1C we’ve needed in New York. Even if he doesn’t hit that ceiling, he’s going to be a legitimate NHL forward.
1. Pavel Buchnevich – Forward, 2013 3rd round pick (LY: 3)
Buchnevich jumps to the #1 spot as he continues to progress despite being yo-yoed up and down the lineup. A true top line talent, Buch will look to make the jump from 40-50 point winger to 60-70 point winger. With consistent top line and top powerplay time, that is certainly doable.
He was the offensive driver of the KZB line, contributing more than both Kreider and Zibanejad in shot generation. The kid is the real deal.
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