Author Archives: Elise Williams

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About Elise Williams

Big Canadian hockey fan. When I'm not watching hockey, I enjoy building houses in Minecraft, and finding new cheeses to try with my family.

NHL Prospect Update: Western Hockey League

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By: Elise Williams

Elise Williams is a sophomore Sport Management major from Dublin, Ohio. She loves anything hockey and is incredibly passionate about the Canadian Hockey League. In her free time, she can be found searching for trinkets, eating sand, or staring at a life-sized pillow of her dog.

November 12, 2024

Continuing on from my previous post about the Ontario Hockey League, the Western league is up next. Plenty of talent has been sweeping through both leagues. The WHL is known for having some of the most elite hockey games in junior leagues. That being said, it has produced some amazing NHL talent, like Leon Draisaitl, Chandler Stephenson, and plenty of other talent.

(Quick note, Connor Bedard, the WHL phenom, will not be included in this list. He is such an icon in the hockey sphere that a single Google search would do him more justice than I could. He is also currently in the NHL, so I wouldn’t call him a ‘prospect’ anymore.)

Caedan Bankier keeps the puck away from the opposing team.

Caedan Bankier (#86 in 2021, Minnesota Wild)

Bankier was a key part of the Kamloops Blazers lineup for the past few years, rotating from second-line center to first-line winger regularly. However, his talent and potential were often overshadowed by one of his friends, Logan Stankoven. Bankier’s backcheck and tough, defensive forward play was exactly what helped Canada win a gold medal at the World Juniors (the big hockey tournament around Christmas, where 10* nations face off with players under 20). Having a point total of 85 points in 57 games with the Blazers, Bankier proved to be a force with whom to be reckoned. His skills are now with the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s AHL team. Bankier was hurt for a good chunk of last season, and because of that, he has not had ample time to adjust to the quicker game of the American Hockey League. With his skillset, I think that Bankier has the ability to adjust pretty quickly. Wild fans can expect Bankier to make the jump within a few years.

Zach Benson hustling for his current team, the Buffalo Sabres.

Zach Benson (#13 in 2023, Buffalo Sabres)

Benson, going later in the draft than originally planned, has shown his amazing work ethic, especially in the National league. The Sabres opted to play Benson in the NHL now, instead of letting him develop within the Rochester Americans’ team to hone his skills. Because of this, someone (me) could say that Benson has not had the opportunity to really develop like some of the other guys in his draft. His skills are still incredible, his playmaking, hockey IQ, and skating are unmatched in his age group, but if he had the time to perfect those skills before being thrown to the wolves, I think he would be even better than he already is. Anyway, getting off my soapbox, Benson was a powerhouse with the Winnipeg Ice, tallying a shocking 98 points in 60 games in the 2022-23 season. That scoring has yet to transfer to the NHL level, but Sabres fans should sleep well at night knowing that Benson has the potential to be a top forward in the league.

Berkly Catton rushing up ice for the Spokane Chiefs.

Berkly Catton (#8 in 2024, Seattle Kraken)

Catton, the star forward for the Spokane Chiefs this year, is off to a staggering start. After being designated as the captain of the Chiefs, Catton has put up 26 points in 16 games, and is on pace to have 83 points this season (as of November 6th, 2024). However, his numbers last year were astronomical. Catton charted a shocking 116 points in 68 games. That was almost 2 points per game. His speed and ability to score points is impressive, especially for someone of his age (on the younger side of the draft class, but barely). His ability to make passes at the right time and place is fantastic as well, leading to more assists than goals. Overall, Catton was an amazing selection at #8. Kraken fans should see Catton within the next couple years, once he has aged out of the WHL. However, I think he’ll go earlier than that because of his point scoring, but also because he developed so quickly with the Spokane Chiefs and has proven to be at the NHL level.

Cristall suiting up for his current team, the Kelowna Rockets.

Andrew Cristall (#40 in 2023, Washington Capitals)

Cristall is a player that many had going in the early first round. However, many were then shocked to watch him fall as far down as he did. His creativity with the puck is great, along with his playmaking ability. I can still see why he fell so far down in the draft, as his defensive skills still need polishing, but that will eventually come with time and good development in the Caps system. With the Rockets last year, Cristall scored a shocking 111 points in 62 games, putting him 5th in the scoring race in the WHL, putting him just behind Berkly Catton (#4 in the scoring race, #3 in this article). These great point scores have one key difference: defense. Catton has developed his defensive skills, while Cristall is still working on perfecting his already-pretty-good defense. Also, Cristall is on the smaller side of prospects, setting him at a disadvantage from the jump. Still, if developed correctly, Cristall has the opportunity to take the NHL by storm and create his own league of talent.

Colton Dach keeping the puck away from a Portland Winterhawks forward.

Colton Dach (#62 in 2021, Chicago Blackhawks)

Colton Dach, not to be confused with older brother Kirby Dach, has had some unfortunate years after his draft in 2021. Riddled with injury, it is hard to see a great deal of development. However, he has come a long way in his recovery. He had gotten hurt in the World Juniors, where he played 4 games before going down with a shoulder injury. It took him quite a bit of time to recover, and once he came back to the game, he got injured again. This time, it was an ankle injury. He cannot really catch a break. However, he still has a place within the Blackhawks system, with the Rockford IceHogs. There, he is playing a game of ‘catch up’ to be with his prospect pool. Still, his scoring and physicality are something the Blackhawks need if they are to be real contenders this season. In 2023-24 with Rockford, Dach put up 27 points in 48 games. While not astounding numbers, he plays his role as a 3rd or 4th line guy. Most of the time they act as an insurance policy for some of the top-line guys (e.g., Connor Bedard). Let’s hope Dach can stay off the IR this year and develop.

Kevin Korchinski all smiles at Blackhawks camp.

Kevin Korchinski (#7 in 2022, Chicago Blackhawks)

Hailing from Saskatoon, Korchinski has a very bright future ahead of him with the Blackhawks. However, many seemed to pass on Korchinski initially, because there were still plenty of other defenseman who have been in the public eye. Still, his skill as a defensive defenseman landed him in the top 10 of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks knew Korchinski would be amazing for their blue line, coming to their organization with great puck handling, and skating. I believe that many were skeptical of Korchinski at first because he didn’t seem to measure up to the other defenseman in his draft class, as mentioned earlier. However, the Seattle Thunderbirds did an excellent job of developing Korchinski into being an NHL-caliber defenseman what seemed like overnight after he was drafted. His point totals for 2022-23 (The year after his draft) were great, totaling 73 points in 54 games. Currently, he is with the Rockford IceHogs after spending almost all of last year with the Blackhawks. I can only assume it is to develop his defensive zone skills even more. He will be back soon.

Thomas Milic saluting the crowd in Seattle.

Thomas Milic (#151 in 2023, Winnipeg Jets)

Thomas Milic is the blueprint for a lot of young goaltenders. Putting up rockstar numbers when (what feels like) the fate of the world is on your shoulders, staying relaxed in the face of defeat, anything. It takes so much mental toughness to be a goaltender, I do not think many fans realize that. Sorry, I need to get off my soapbox once again when writing about Thomas Milic. He originally went undrafted in 2021, and came back with probably one of the biggest “You Guys Missed Out” seasons I have ever seen. In the World Juniors he put up a .932 save percentage, and went undefeated in the tournament. In the WHL, he was consistently shutting teams down, and eventually won the WHL ‘Goaltender of the Year’ in 2022-23. He also won Championship MVP in the same year. The decorated goaltender proved himself in more ways than one, which lead to him being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, alongside OHL goaltender, Dom Divincentiis, whom I discussed in my previous article. This goaltending tandem is going to be unstoppable in a few years with the Jets.

Fraser Minten suits up for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Fraser Minten (#38 in 2023, Toronto Maple Leafs)

Minten has always been an interesting player to me. Especially when he was given the captaincy of the Kamloops Blazers… only to be traded away within the month. Still, I think Minten’s development between the Blazers (then the Saskatoon Blades) is notable. While not projected in the first round, many teams were clamoring to get Minten into their system. His amazing two-way game sense is unmatched, along with his skill to know when and where to be on the ice. The Maple Leafs needed that consistent piece to hopefully get them out of the first round, and they got that in both Minten and Cowan, as well as their other draft picks. Minten’s point totals across teams were also great, while trying to stand out on a team full of greats in Kamloops. He tallied 67 points in 57 games with Kamloops in 2022-23, and then 10 points in 7 games before being traded to the Blades. While Minten has already played a few games with the Leafs, I think that Minten needs a few more years of development before he can break out as a great forward for the team.

Tanner Molendyk makes a pass for the Saskatoon Blades.

Tanner Molendyk (#24 in 2023, Nashville Predators)

I feel like the whole hockey world forgot about Tanner Molendyk. Probably because they did. Molendyk was supposed to play in the World Juniors in 2024, but unfortunately got injured during the pre-tournament games against Switzerland, only a few days before the tournament. This sidelined him for the entire tournament, and even some of his junior season. After that, he slotted right back into his role as a top pair defenseman with the Blades. His puck control and absolute speed/skating is amazing, which is what allowed him to go in the first round in 2023. Still, I think many forgot about Molendyk simply because he was hurt. On top of that, not many articles were posted about Molendyk, but he was still putting in great work behind the scenes. His development is going very well within the Blades organization, and Predators fans can be excited to have Molendyk on their team shortly.

Olen Zellweger on the blue line for the Ducks.

Olen Zellweger (#34 in 2021, Anaheim Ducks)

Zellweger, coached by BGSU’s own head coach Dennis Williams for many years with the Silvertips, is doing Olen Zellweger things. Zellweger was doing great things for years with the Silvertips, but many were waiting for his draft year to see where he would land. Many had originally predicted that he would go later in the draft, since he wasn’t really putting up NHL-caliber numbers. He was also 16-17 trying to get his bearings in the WHL. After being drafted pretty high, Zellweger really started to ramp up in all facets. He developed keen offensive awareness, as well as sheer speed and played all 200 feet. The only issue? He’s on the shorter side. Many NHL teams are looking for the whole package and tend to pass up on great talent for size instead because they want that physicality, and to not have a player blow away with the wind or a slight check to the shoulder. Zellweger has come to play around his size, and has developed into a top four defenseman for the Ducks, in one of the best prospect pools I’ve ever seen for any team.

With all that being said, all junior leagues are getting more and more talented as years pass. The game of hockey is growing steadily, whether that be because of fans or simply because of how the NHL is set up with farm teams. I think that the future of the NHL rests in the hands of these 16, 17, and 18-year-olds who want to experience the rush of being on an NHL team. Once again, watch junior leagues. They’re the future of hockey.

NHL Prospect Update: Ontario Hockey League

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By Elise Williams

Elise Williams is a sophomore Sport Management major from Dublin, Ohio. She loves anything hockey and is incredibly passionate about the Canadian Hockey League. In her free time, she can be found curled up with a good book, asleep, or eating shredded cheese right out of the bag.

October 23rd, 2024

It’s been a few months since the 2024 NHL Entry Draft took place in The Sphere. An interesting experience for all. And since many NHL rosters are filling with rarely heard names for the beginning of the season, I figured now would be the best time to give a prospect update. More specifically, with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) guys, and how they have developed since their draft years.

Denver Barkey celebrating after a goal.

Denver Barkey (#95 in 2023, Philadelphia Flyers)

During his time with the Knights in London, Barkey has shown incredible tenacity and growth. Throughout his tenure, he has continued to provide scoring for the entire Knights roster and while not necessarily putting up superstar, godly numbers, his scoring is consistent and increasing. He signed with the Flyers back in March of 2024, a three-year deal that begins in the 2024-25 season. Flyers fans can expect him to be a great 3rd or 4th line guy, as his size is generally not ideal (5’8). However, Barkey continues to put in the work to become a top line player for both the Knights and the Flyers. Recently, he attended Flyers NHL camp with Knights teammate Oliver Bonk, but Barkey didn’t skate, as he is recovering from illness. Also, if any of you happen to care, I’ve talked to him a bit, and he is a really nice guy. He signed a drawing I gave him two years ago, and we occasionally talk through Instagram DMs.

Hunter Brzustewicz circling around the net. 

Hunter Brzustewicz (#75 in 2023, Vancouver Canucks/Calgary Flames)

Hunter Brzustewicz (pronounced, broo-STEV-itch, crazy I know), not to be confused with younger brother Henry Brzustewicz, is a new acquisition for the Calgary Flames. Hunter was involved in the Elias Lindholm trade with Andrei Kuzmenko and a few first-rounders. As an offensive defenseman, Brzustewicz‘s speed and skill are two massive factors in his play. He signed with the Flames back in mid-March, securing his spot within the Flames’ system. Brzustewicz, being US-born, went through the AAA system in Michigan. His point totals from 2023-24 were insane (especially for a defenseman), putting up a total of 92 points in 67 games. Currently, he is playing with the Calgary Wranglers, and within two games has put up an assist. Still, Flames fans can look forward to having a skilled defenseman in the near future in Brzustewicz (which is really hard to spell 7 times).

Easton Cowan suiting up for the Knights. 

Easton Cowan (#28 in 2023, Toronto Maple Leafs)

“Cowboy”, as many call him, is the future of the Leafs organization. Going later in the first round after being projected late fourth round, his come-up is well-documented by many different sources. Throughout his tenure with the Knights, Cowan has put up great numbers, tallying 96 points in just 54 games last year. In the playoffs, he put up 34 points in 18 games. These numbers got him signed with the Leafs as well, a 3-year deal that ends in 2026-27. Leafs’ fans can expect a sharp-shooting winger with great speed to join their lineup within the next year or so. Even though many are still skeptical about Cowan jumping so high in the draft, Brad Treliving (generally) does know what he’s doing when it comes to prospects. There are plenty of other great prospects coming through the Leafs farm system that will be touched on in the WHL portion of the NHL prospect update.

Dom DiVincentiis preparing to stop a puck.

Dom DiVincentiis (#207 in 2022, Winnipeg Jets)

As the only goaltender on this list, DiVincentiis stands out. He also stands out on the stat sheet, putting a save percentage of .919 in 48 games. That is almost unheard of in junior leagues. On top of that, he was the OHL ‘Goaltender of the Year’ in 2022-23. His skills made the Jets decision to draft him all the more worth it. Generally speaking, goalies never crack NHL rosters right out of junior hockey. It’s very rare to see an 18 or 19-year-old goalie in the National league because of the development and skill it takes to perfect being a goalie. You don’t just come out of Junior with the skills to stop a puck flying at you at 120 mph. So, giving a goaltender the time to adjust to the elite skill and speed of the National league, most hang out in the ECHL (which no longer stands for anything), or the American Hockey League (AHL). So Jets fans can expect DiVincentiis in the next 5 or so years, just so he can develop into the best goaltender he can be.

Sam Dickinson warming up for the London Knights.

Sam Dickinson (#11 in 2024, San Jose Sharks)

Full of personality and skill, Dickinson has a long NHL career ahead of him. He joined the Knights early in his career, a clear sign that he was the real deal. A genuine two-way defenseman, Dickinson has amazing puck control and hockey IQ, knowing what plays will create the best opportunity for a goal. His skills got him on the OHL First All-Rookie team in the 2022-23 season. On top of that, he was on Team Canada for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (which is like the hockey Olympics for under 18’s, in which 8 nations face off). His point production is increasing exponentially as well, putting up 70 points in 68 games as a defenseman (2023-24), as opposed to his 23 points in 62 games (2022-23). Sharks fans have plenty to look forward to in Dickinson, and can expect him as soon as the 2025-26 NHL season. He signed with the Sharks in July of 2024, so maybe that will expedite the process of him going to The Show.

Dalibor Dvorsky waiting to make a play for the Sudbury Wolves.

Dalibor Dvorsky (#10 in 2023, St. Louis Blues)

Coming to the OHL from the Swiss league Hockey Allsvenskan, Dvorsky brought his intense gameplay with him. His speed combined with his skill made him an amazing prospect for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. His puck-handling, passing, and offensive read are all lethal for the opposing team. He played for Team Slovakia at the World Juniors (the big hockey tournament around Christmas, where 8 nations face off with players under 20. This tournament is more popular than Hlinka Gretzky because the players promise to be in the NHL sooner – that is my guess), as well as Hlinka Gretzky, notching 13 points in 7 games in the younger tournament, and 3 points in 5 games at the World Juniors. Still, his intense game and ability to make difficult passes got him drafted by the St. Louis Blues. He signed with them in July of 2023, and many had mixed feelings. Those feelings should subside though, as Dvorsky is barreling through the AHL system in hopes of cracking an NHL roster either this year or the next.

Jett Luchanko turning to make a play at Flyers Development Camp.

Jett Luchanko (#13 in 2024, Philadelphia Flyers)

Luchanko (which, c’mon, what a name) shot up the NHL Draft rankings before the draft actually started. His work ethic is a massive part of that. Not only does he want to learn, but he also wants to be competitive. While his shot may not be the best on the team, his puck control and ability to make passes is on another level (Similar to Dvorsky above). He puts in the work to constantly be better than the competition, and feels the need to prove to many why the Flyers selected him. He flew under the radar at first, but his performance at the NHL Combine showed his strength to many that may have doubted him. His point totals throughout the years have steadily increased, starting at 14 points in 46 games, then shooting up to 74 points in 68 games. He signed with the Flyers in July of 2024, and began training to be an all-star. The amazing skills he has and the others he continues to polish will be an amazing asset for the Flyers in the near future.

Zayne Parekh looks towards fans in Saginaw.

Zayne Parekh (#9 in 2024, Calgary Flames)

Starting his junior career earlier than others, Parekh hadn’t always been on everyone’s radar. Whispers of his name had only just started at the beginning of his draft year, and then his talent exploded. His ability to make plays quickly and with such a strong hockey IQ was what drew in plenty of NHL teams. Winning the 2024 Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit only further drew in talent-hungry teams. Parekh was a massive asset to Saginaw during the entire tournament (I would know, I was there). His point totals weren’t astronomical, but that’s common for defensemen. At the Memorial Cup, he scored 5 points in 5 games, but anyone could notice his presence on the ice. In the regular season of his draft year, he scored an insane 96 points in 66 games. He signed with the Flames barely a week after the draft, and has been training to crack an NHL roster ever since. The Flames can expect a playmaking defenseman with great skating ability within a few years, possibly even sooner.

Beckett Sennecke with his current team, the Oshawa Generals.

Beckett Sennecke (#3 in 2024, Anaheim Ducks)

Going semi-viral for his dazed reaction to being drafted third overall, Sennecke has the skills to back up his draft spot. While he may not be putting up monstrous points like the other guys on this list, he still is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. The skills Sennecke brings to the Generals forward core are incredible. His puck handling, size, and skating led him to be a high draft pick. While many saw the pick as a throwaway (especially since it was a top 3 pick), others saw it as high-risk high-reward. If developed well within the Ducks’ system, Sennecke has the potential to be a first line winger for the Ducks, alongside an amazing prospect pool for Anaheim (truly one of the best prospect pools I’ve ever seen). Like many of the other guys on this list, Sennecke signed with the Ducks right out of the draft. Ducks fans (if there are any out there) can expect a highly-skilled winger with great size to add to the arsenal of incredible talent in the coming years.

Florian Xhekaj suiting up for the Brantford Bulldogs.

Florian Xhekaj (#101 in 2023, Montreal Canadians)

Florian Xhekaj (pronounced JACK-eye, I think? I’ve heard 12 different ways to say it, but this one is most agreed on), takes after his brother, Arber. That being said, the penalty minutes are high with these two brothers. Opting to protect his teammates rather than put up impressive numbers, Xhekaj isn’t always at the top of the score sheet. In the 2023-24 season, Xhekaj put up 25 points in 68 games, and had 18 penalty minutes (which makes me wonder how the OHL calculates penalty minutes, since I can count on my fingers and toes the number of fights Xhekaj got into, and I would still need more fingers). Still, sometimes a team needs a good enforcer. His aggression on the ice is what got him recognized by the Canadians, but also because his brother also plays in Montreal. The Canadians can expect a Bash-Bro’s type deal once Florian develops through the Canadiens farm system.

The NHL has such a bright future. Plenty of incredible prospects are making their way through the farm systems. As the NHL becomes more and more talented, it becomes more entertaining to watch. There is still plenty of talent left to be drafted as well, which is even better for the NHL as a whole. In conclusion, watch junior leagues. They’re the future of hockey.