For those interested the U-18 WJC starts today. US v Czechia at 7:00 on NHL Network. Plenty of kids in this tournament will be drafted in a couple months so you get a good look at some of them this close to the draft.
- Mr Ricochet

Maddox Schultz, the 15 yr old with Canada, is a must watch.

Chippy game in Rosemont. Lev looks good. Paired with EDM.

Commesso showing very well in This game

For those interested the U-18 WJC starts today. US v Czechia at 7:00 on NHL Network. Plenty of kids in this tournament will be drafted in a couple months so you get a good look at some of them this close to the draft.
- Mr Ricochet

Thanks for the info, did not see much of the game except the last few minutes. Looks like at least the US games will be on there, USA vs. SUI tomorrow.

I see that Radim Mrtka had a goal for CZE. Caught a game of his live here in Seattle a few weeks ago; I think he could make a jump up into the top 5 if a team really wants a defenseman but doesn't have the #1. Has size, quickness, good speed and handles well, scored almost a point a game (almost all assists) while adjusting to the WHL from Europe. Could get an Arty-like buzz although he is not as advanced yet.

Am thinking that the draft may go like last year with trading up. The big pile of guys from 15-35 has a lot of interesting players. CHI has 2 firsts and could get another using the 2 2nd rounders. Then use the 2 4ths to get another 3rd.

Mid to late 1st Nesbitt, Lakovic, Spence, B. Martin, Gastrin, W. Moore, Cootes, Reschny, Murtagh and the goalies Ravensbergen and Ivankovic would be interesting picks. There are others too that I'm less familiar with.

Arty with the OT GWG!!

Maddox Schultz, the 15 yr old with Canada, is a must watch.
- wizardofi

Thanks, Wizard. This Schultz kid wasn't even on my radar. He's playing U-18 minor hockey for Regina. Think he'll be drafted in this yrs Bantam Draft cuz as of now he's undrafted...... Some big numbers for the 15 yr old forward and already at 5ft 10 in 165lbs he'll be a good sized kid. 2028 eligible for the NHL draft.

https://www.eliteprospect...yer/701409/maddox-schultz

Thanks for the info, did not see much of the game except the last few minutes. Looks like at least the US games will be on there, USA vs. SUI tomorrow.

I see that Radim Mrtka had a goal for CZE. Caught a game of his live here in Seattle a few weeks ago; I think he could make a jump up into the top 5 if a team really wants a defenseman but doesn't have the #1. Has size, quickness, good speed and handles well, scored almost a point a game (almost all assists) while adjusting to the WHL from Europe. Could get an Arty-like buzz although he is not as advanced yet.

Am thinking that the draft may go like last year with trading up. The big pile of guys from 15-35 has a lot of interesting players. CHI has 2 firsts and could get another using the 2 2nd rounders. Then use the 2 4ths to get another 3rd.

Mid to late 1st Nesbitt, Lakovic, Spence, B. Martin, Gastrin, W. Moore, Cootes, Reschny, Murtagh and the goalies Ravensbergen and Ivankovic would be interesting picks. There are others too that I'm less familiar with.
- totem

My first U-18 tournament not having seen the USHL, and NTDP, for 2 yrs. I haven't seen these US kids ever, my first time........ Notice how small the forwards are. They can all fly and are skilled bluebloods. .. That 5ft 7in Mooney kid, Cooley is his cousin, has some real special IQ/vision/touch. Very interesting kid come the 3rd rd. Expected huge numbers when I went to his EP page but they're just good. Not knowing the context of his stats and usage with the NTDP, and after seeing him play tonight, I'm not putting much stock in his stats. https://www.eliteprospect...player/577166/l.j.-mooney

The Mrtka kid looks very nice. I think he's gonna climb a lotta boards after this tournament. At 6ft 6in 200lbs kid can flat out skate. He's another one who is causing me to recalibrate how I evaluate big D prospects these days. 10 yrs ago Mrtka would be the talk of hockey with that size skating combo but these days there are so many more of them.

Even so his skating is even better than the vast majority in this day and age when 90% of them can skate. ....... Kid has real pedigree. Played Hlinka, 60 international games for CZE, played WJC last yr as a 16 yr old, now playing as a draft eligible 17 yr old coming off a fine yr, his first in NA, in the WHL putting up 35 in 43 for the Seattle squad. Really really nice prospect that seems sure to go inside the top 10 and maybe closer to 5 than 10. https://www.eliteprospect...player/872673/radim-mrtka

Arty with the OT GWG!!
- Chunk

I like Spellacy, but my fear is that he is a large version of Alexandre Fortin. Fast, and provides something you don't really have, but when the games are real and not pre-season, he's just a guy. Hope I'm way off on this, but I saw the same thing in my viewings of him.
- Chunk

Chunk, Spellacy is a very interesting case. In Ohio he was a football star, a safety and those guys read, react and hit, who didn't really play hockey. Think the kid had D1 football scholarship offers, so you can see what kinda athlete he is.

His EP page shows a full 15 Ohio club hockey games and then dropped into the OHL with Windsor. Think about that. 15 games of hockey then played 47 OHL games as a 17 yr old! That is a massive massive leap, in fact never saw anything like that. Probably bigger than the leap of Artie going from Belarus jrs straight to the USHL.

To show that wasn't a fluke the kid made the US Hlinka squad the same yr he went to Windsor. 15 total Ohio minor hockey games, next yr 47 OHL games and the US Hlinka squad.

Paul is right, he's really solid on his OHL observations, that indeed in his 3rd yr of OHL he hasn't really built on anything stat wise and IMO to the eye test either. But is that predictable/expected? .... Most of these kids have vast experience, coaching and top competition starting at 10ish yrs old then they go Major Junior or USHL. Spellacy? 15 minor games then the OHL.

IMO out of any prospect in the pipeline this kid is the furthest from his ceiling, whatever that is. But at 6ft 3in, 200lbs with D1 football athleticism that is a good skater with ++speed and only a tiny bit of hockey under his belt kid has really never had a switch go off yet, his numbers and eye test show that.

A switch will go off to some degree and then we'll get a glimpse or idea of what his ceiling might be. ... Just like Rinzel he was drafted on traits and not production. Rinzel muddled along in the USHL finding his way with pedestrian stats then went to U of MN where things started to click. His game caught up to his traits and he took off and that will happen too, to some degree, with Spellacy.

Another big guy who can skate and those guys get long looks. In no way have I ruled out Spellacy being a top 6 NHLer or at the very least a high floor. His traits say he has that kinda tool kit/traits and for a kid like that, with D1 football athleticism who played a read and react position who patterns his game off of Tom Wilson (nothing like a Fortin type) no way do I count anything out. https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/790498/a.j.-spellacy

Chunk, Spellacy is a very interesting case. In Ohio he was a football star, a safety and those guys read, react and hit, who didn't really play hockey. Think the kid had D1 football scholarship offers, so you can see what kinda athlete he is.

His EP page shows a full 15 Ohio club hockey games and then dropped into the OHL with Windsor. Think about that. 15 games of hockey then played 47 OHL games as a 17 yr old! That is a massive massive leap, in fact never saw anything like that. Probably bigger than the leap of Artie going from Belarus jrs straight to the USHL.

To show that wasn't a fluke the kid made the US Hlinka squad the same yr he went to Windsor. 15 total Ohio minor hockey games, next yr 47 OHL games and the US Hlinka squad.

Paul is right, he's really solid on his OHL observations, that indeed in his 3rd yr of OHL he hasn't really built on anything stat wise and IMO to the eye test either. But is that predictable/expected? .... Most of these kids have vast experience, coaching and top competition starting at 10ish yrs old then they go Major Junior or USHL. Spellacy? 15 minor games then the OHL.

IMO out of any prospect in the pipeline this kid is the furthest from his ceiling, whatever that is. But at 6ft 3in, 200lbs with D1 football athleticism that is a good skater with ++speed and only a tiny bit of hockey under his belt kid has really never had a switch go off yet, his numbers and eye test show that.

A switch will go off to some degree and then we'll get a glimpse or idea of what his ceiling might be. ... Just like Rinzel he was drafted on traits and not production. Rinzel muddled along in the USHL finding his way with pedestrian stats then went to U of MN where things started to click. His game caught up to his traits and he took off and that will happen too, to some degree, with Spellacy.

Another big guy who can skate and those guys get long looks. In no way have I ruled out Spellacy being a top 6 NHLer or at the very least a high floor. His traits say he has that kinda tool kit/traits and for a kid like that, with D1 football athleticism who played a read and react position who patterns his game off of Tom Wilson (nothing like a Fortin type) no way do I count anything out. https://www.eliteprospect...ayer/790498/a.j.-spellacy
- Mr Ricochet

That's what i really like about KDs drafts. I did not expect to see Rinzel play so well so soon. The traits thing is really important, for 3rd round less than 5% chance of making it to the bigs, i love all the picks because they all have speed that is an ability which gives them a better chance to be something in the NHL than not.

Lardis had become such a threat for the bull dogs he had to be targeted and they couldn't stop him until he was injured.

Those 2nd and 3rd round picks is a great place to build your bottom 6 lines, with a very small chance of hitting on a future star in the NHL.

- oldduffman

All three goals were garbage goals. Must have been a good game.

All three goals were garbage goals. Must have been a good game.
- rpeters01

Not really. Chicago's goal was a nice tip by the net front guy on the PP. KK's was flukey for sure (long shot in off the end boards that was kicked in by the goalie). Arty's was from longer range and not that hard, but Hayes did a nice job screening the goalie immediately before he shot it.

It was actually a really good goalie duel if you like that kind of thing. RFD generated a lot of really good chances.

KK looked really strong both with and without the puck. EDM was solid as expected. Allan had a strong game (shut down a bunch near the net and put a number of guys on their behinds). Arty played well, but he had a pinch with about a minute left that I'm sure he'd want back (gave up a 2-on-1). Hogs generated a ton from the back end.

Thompson was noticeable and played a lot. Guttman looked like a guy playing for an NHL spot (too bad he won't get one with the Hawks). The game was chippy as hell (not as much as their last regular season meeting, but still). Good start for the kids. Hopefully, they can keep it going.

Blackhawks 4th line legend Marcus Kruger announced his retirement from pro hockey.

Blackhawks 4th line legend Marcus Kruger announced his retirement from pro hockey.
- breadbag

Lol. Never wrapped my head around why some loved him on here so much.

Lol. Never wrapped my head around why some loved him on here so much.
- bhawks2241

People like an underdog or a guy who plays bigger than his physical stature, a guy who doesn’t complain, who goes out and competes hard every shift. And unlike an underdog like Andrew Shaw who gave it back physically, Kruger just took his licks, played hard, did what was asked and made himself important to the team.

Lol. Never wrapped my head around why some loved him on here so much.
- bhawks2241

Because he accepted his role as a defensive specialist and did it exceedingly well without complaint. Preventing goals is just as important scoring them.

Blackhawks 4th line legend Marcus Kruger announced his retirement from pro hockey.
- breadbag

Small in stature but played many big minutes, another thing he was really underrated at was being one of 3 forwards cycling the puck very very very well.

People like an underdog or a guy who plays bigger than his physical stature, a guy who doesn’t complain, who goes out and competes hard every shift. And unlike an underdog like Andrew Shaw who gave it back physically, Kruger just took his licks, played hard, did what was asked and made himself important to the team.
- paulr

Didn't hurt that he took a poopty deal to stay and help out the team with the cap.

Because he accepted his role as a defensive specialist and did it exceedingly well without complaint. Preventing goals is just as important scoring them.
- Chunk

and that OT playoff winner

and that OT playoff winner

- vabeachbear

Still my claim to fame was that I was at that game, 7 rows back in the corner at the end he scored. Something like $300-400 for the seat.

Looks like Lardis injury isn't too bad. No specifics, but he says that it should take care of itself with rest and some therapy.

Said his goal was to improve strength and work on winning board battles. Looking forward to seeing him in camp.

Looks like Lardis injury isn't too bad. No specifics, but he says that it should take care of itself with rest and some therapy.

Said his goal was to improve strength and work on winning board battles. Looking forward to seeing him in camp.
- Chunk

Good to hear. For someone at his age, you'd hate for them to get something serious that might impact them long term, hockey or not.

Because he accepted his role as a defensive specialist and did it exceedingly well without complaint. Preventing goals is just as important scoring them.
- Chunk

Yeah, he did his job well for a while as a pretty solid 4th line guy. He battled hard even if was getting knocked down a lot in the process, he didn't quit. One of those guys that added value as long as his longevity could sustain it, but the prime/ceiling for those guys can be shorter.

Man, you can't trust anyone named Frunk anymore.

https://x.com/The1Tab/status/1915408001264943311

Looks like Lardis injury isn't too bad. No specifics, but he says that it should take care of itself with rest and some therapy.

Said his goal was to improve strength and work on winning board battles. Looking forward to seeing him in camp.
- Chunk

I read Lardis will begin working out at Gary Roberts Performance Academy in Richmondhill Ontario. Many NHL and CHL players work out at this facility. Along with the physical aspects Roberts is well known for guiding players nutritionally.