Otto Somppi

Team: Halifax Mooseheads

League: QMJHL

Position: C

Born: 12th January 1998

Height: 6.1       

Weight: 181
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

Size/Strength	Average
Skating	Good
Shot/Scoring	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Good
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Average
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Puckhandling

2. Puck Protection

3. Doesn't panic

Area’s For Improvement

1. Risky 1vs1 

2. Could fire the puck more often

3. Defensive Responsibility

Scouting Report:

Somppi is a forward with silk smooth hands and outstanding puckmoving abilities. Uses his smooth skating to enter the zone and set up plays. He plays a very calm game and never panics, is also very effective in tight space. Possesses good top speed and is very hard to knock off the puck even if he isn't overly big in size. Likes to use his full reach to keep the puck away from forecheckers when gliding through the neutral zone. He is excellent in doing so and protects the puck really well. Too often he goes into one-against-one situations and loses the puck, this is something he has to get rid of. However, Somppi is a highly skilled forward who likes to do something with the puck even if it sometimes ends in a give away. He also tries to get involved physically and finishes his checks.                 

NHL Potential: Playmaker, who possesses smooth hands.  

Style compares to: Derek Roy

Pius Suter

Embed from Getty Images

Team: ZSC Lions

League: National League A

Position: C

Born: 24th May 1996

Height: 5.11       

Weight: 170
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

Size/Strength	Average
Skating	Average
Shot/Scoring	Average
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Average
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Good
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Two-way game

2. Hockey smarts

3. Penalty killing

Area’s For Improvement

1. Shot 

2. Face-off skills

3. Execution

Scouting Report:

Suter is a smallish center who can play on the wing as well. He plays an excellent two-way game and can excel at both ends of the ice although his defensive instincts are more progressed than his offensive ones. He uses his great hockey smarts in a lot of situations and is a dangerous penalty killer as he can steal the puck with his good anticipation and transfer his game from a defensive mode into attack within seconds. Suter is a decent puckhandler and makes smart decisions with the puck, is good in tight situations and does not panic. Does not commit a lot of mistakes and does not turn the puck over very often. He wins board battles although he is not overly physical as he is not afraid to battle against bigger opponents and does not quit on plays. He is not really an executer and could work on his shot power. All in all, Suter is a competitive and hard-working center who does a lot of small things right and is willing to sacrifice and take one for the team. Uses his matured understanding of the game to make plays.                    

NHL Potential: Two-way center, who shows a matured understanding of the game.  

Style compares to: Frans Nielsen

WJC 2016 team previews

Team Finland:

http://thehockeywriters.com/finlands-firepower-goes-beyond-puljujarvi-laine/

Team Sweden:

http://thehockeywriters.com/sweden-looking-to-spoil-finnish-wjc-party/

Team Switzerland:

http://thehockeywriters.com/wjhc-examining-switzerland-denmark/

Team Denmark:

http://thehockeywriters.com/wjhc-examining-switzerland-denmark/

German Rubtsov

View image | gettyimages.com

Team: Russia U18

League: MHL

Position: C

Born: 27th June 1998

Height: 6.1       

Weight: 174
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

Size/Strength	Good
Skating	Average
Shot/Scoring	Average
Puckhandling	Good
Physical Play	Average
Offensive Play	Good
Defensive Play	Good
Hockey Sense	Excellent
Competitiveness	Good

 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths

1. Hockey IQ

2. Calmed play

3. Two-way game

Area’s For Improvement

1. Could produce more offence 

2. Skating acceleration

3. Eliminate Penalties from his game

Scouting Report:

A very intelligent forward who plays an effective game in all three zones. Uses his great understanding of the game to make plays. Plays a very calm game and never panics, not even when he is under pressure. Each of his plays are well thought. Although he is not very big, he is really hard to knock off the puck as he protects the puck very well. Shows a good neutral zone game as he cuts passing lanes effectively and prevents the opponent team from fast counter attacks. Rubtsov is not a pure offensive weapon and therefore could create more scoring chances and also needs to work on his skating acceleration. All in all, Rubtsov is a highly intelligent two-way forward who works effectively in all three zones and is a plus for each team which has him in the lineup.                    

NHL Potential: Two-way forward, who shows a matured understanding of the game.  

Style compares to: Ryan O'Reilly

Scouting the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup 2015

View image | gettyimages.com

The season of the 2016 NHL Draft officially started in August with the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Let's have a look who stood out.

Team USA:

http://thehockeywriters.com/who-stood-out-for-team-usa-at-ivan-hlinka-memorial/

The rest of Group B:

http://thehockeywriters.com/some-names-to-watch-from-the-ivan-hlinka-memorial/

Top 100 Prospects

Scouting-Factory is listing the top 100 prospects, starting with the most promising ones. The list includes only Calder Trophy eligible players. Find them here:

Connor McDavid

Jack Eichel

Dylan Larkin

Sam Bennett

Dylan Strome

Sam Reinhart

William Nylander

Max Domi

Mitch Marner

Noah Hanifin

Mike Reilly

Nikolaj Ehlers

Mikko Rantanen

Andrei Vasilveskiy

Zach Werenski

Josh Morrissey

Mathew Barzal

Jimmy Vesey

Kevin Fiala

Michael Dal Colle

Derrick Pouliot

Ivan Provorov

Kyle Connor

Connor Hellebuyck

Joonas Donskoi

Darnell Nurse

Robby Fabbri

Pavel Buchnevich

Shea Theodore

Jakub Vrana

Nick Ritchie

Ivan Barbashev

Ryan Pulock

Oliver Bjorkstrand

Anthony Mantha

Timo Meier

Kasperi Kapanen

Jared McCann

Nick Merkley

Travis Konecny

Lawson Crouse

Griffin Reinhart

Anthony De Angelo

Yevgeni Svechnikov

Madison Bowey

Nic Petan

Denis Gurianov

Chris Bigras

Pavel Zacha

Adrian Kempe

Jakub Zboril

Jeremy Roy

Brandon Gormley

Thomas Chabot

Joel Eriksson Ek

Tyler Bertuzzi

Colin White

Jeremy Bracco

Ilya Samsonov

Nikita Scherbak

Brock Boeser

Juuse Saros

Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Calvin Pickard

Cole Cassels

Jake Virtanen

Daniel Sprong

Anthony Beauvillier

Josh Ho-Sang

Nikolay Goldobin

Anthony Duclair

Julius Honka

Michael McCarron

Hudson Fasching

Brady Skjei

Christian Dvorak

Andreas Johnson

Sonny Milano

Zane McIntyre

Kerby Rychel

Anton Slepyshev

Riley Barber

Jansen Harkins

Samuel Morin

Matt Murray

Brendan Perlini

Adam Erne

Haydn Fleury

Jake McCabe

Slater Koekkoekk

Iiro Pakarinen

Emile Poirier

Mirco Mueller

Jack Roslovic

Axel Holmstrom

Christian Fischer

Jake DeBrusk

Sven Andrighetto

Michael Paliotta

Robin Kovacs

2015 Mock Draft 1st Round

1. Edmonton - Connor McDavid (C)

The best prospect since a long time, who will play for the Edmonton Oilers. An absolute generational talent with franchise  player potential.

2. Buffalo - Jack Eichel (C)

Center with outstanding hockey IQ, great work ethic and a powerful stride. Has all tools to become a franchise player with the Sabres.

3. Arizona -  Noah Hanifin (D)

Big bodied two-way defender with good vision and hockey IQ. Potential to be the best US defender in years.

4. Toronto - Dylan Strome (C)

Center with good size and long reach and good speed. Good puckhandler and smart vision.

5. Carolina - Mitch Marner (C)

Quick smallish forward with good hands. Hardworking and unselfish center with good hockey sense.

6. New Jersey - Lawson Crouse (LW)

Big power forward playing a physical game. Possesses a good shot and uses his body to make space for team mates.

7. Philadelphia - Mikko Rantanen (RW)

Big bodied playmaking forward with good vision and accurate pass. Has smooth hands and played in 56 games in the highest Finnish pro league.

8. Columbus – Zachary Werenski (D)     

Puck-moving defenceman with good vision and high end mobility. Can quaterback a Power Play.

9. San Jose - Mathew Barzal (C)

Smart center with a good two-way game and great vision. Good puckhandler and uses his stick well in his own zone.

10. Colorado - Ivan Provorov (D)

Agile and quick offensive minded defender. Very creative defenceman who likes to get involved offensively.

11. Florida - Pavel Zacha (C)

Big center with dangerous offensive skills. Can play physical and has good size.

12. Dallas - Travis Konecny (C)

Smart, dynamic, passionate skater with good work ethic who does all for the win. Good puckhandler and shot.

13. Los Angeles - Kyle Connor (C)

Smart two-way center with good hands and vision. Pass first player who possesses a good play away from the puck.

14. Boston - Jakub Zboril (D)

Two-way defenceman who shows good maturity and understanding of the game. Not afraid to play physical,

15. Calgary - Timo Meier (RW)

Offensive threat with a tremendous shot and lightning quick release. Has a physical edge. Exploded this season.

16. Edmonton - Oliver Kylington (D)

Two-way defenceman and one of the best skaters in this draft. Very matured player and good understanding of the game

17. Winnipeg - Nick Merkley (C)

A smallish playmaker with great vision and good sense to create offence. Is a great passer and shows good work ethic.

18. Ottawa - Thomas Chabot (D)

A two-way defenceman who likes to get involved offensively. Shows good puckhandling skills.

19. Detroit - Joel Eriksson Ek (C)

Hard working Center who plays with a physical edge and does all for the win. Good shooting skills and two-way game.

20. Minnesota - Paul Bittner (LW)

Power Forward with good size and physical play. Hard to knock off the puck and good positioning game in front of net. 

21. Buffalo - Jeremy Bracco (RW)

Undersized but very agile and quick player. Great vision and outstanding in setting up plays. Very good passer

22. Washington - .Evgeni Svechnikov (LW)

Big skilled offensive forward who is hard to knock off the puck. Possesses a good shot and high-level offensive skills.

23. Vancouver - Daniel Sprong (RW)

Outstanding puckhandler and very agile skater. Very effective in the offensive zone and when creating scoring chances.

24. Toronto - Colin White (C)

Hard working two-way center with effective play in all three zones. Good work ethic and making players around him better.

25. Winnipeg - Jeremy Roy (D)

An intelligent two-way defender with a good positioning game. Uses his stick well in defensive plays.

26. Montreal - Anthony Beauvillier (C)

A very agile and quick skater with good top speed. A good puckhandler with good hands.

27. Arizona - Brock Boeser (RW)

Strong forward with a good scoring touch. Protects the puck well and possesses good offensive positioning.

28. Philadelphia - Ilya Samsonov (G)

Big goalie with good athleticism and movement. Challenges shooters well and has the ability to make big saves.

29. Anaheim - Jake DeBrusk (LW)

A winger with high-end speed and good offensive instincts. Shows good understanding of the game.

30. Tampa Bay - Denis Guryanov (RW)

Russian power forward with a booming shot and quick release. Can play physical and is strong in board battles.