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

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/

Patrik Laine

Team: LeKi

photo by iltalehti.fi

League: Mestis

Position: RW

Born: 19th April 1998

Height: 6.4       

Weight: 209
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

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

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

Strengths

1. Puckhandling

2. Size/Strength

3. Good Defensive Mind

Area’s For Improvement

1. Skating Agility

2. First Steps

3. Explosiveness

Scouting Report:

A towering power forward who uses his size to protect the puck and winning corner battles. Has good vision and an accurate shot. Is a very good puckhandler and very calm while carrying the puck, never panicks. Doesn't need a lot of space and keeps calm also with defenders pressuring him. A good pass receiver, able to handle inaccurate passes and bouncing pucks. Plays a responsible role in his own zone. Needs to work on his skating agility and is not an explosive skater. Possesses a good hand-eye coordination. Laine will be eligible for the 2016 draft, where he should be considered a top prospect. Plays good in all three zones and understand the game very well.             

NHL Potential: Power Forward, who has a great size and is good in both zones.  

Style compares to: Jakub Voracek

Auston Matthews

Team: U.S. National U18 Team

photo by thehockeynews.com

League: USHL/USDP

Position: Center

Born: 17th September 1997

Height: 6.2       

Weight: 194
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

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

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

Strengths

1. Puckhandling

2. Creating Chances

3. Hockey Sense

Area’s For Improvement

1. Physical Game

2. Shoot The Puck

3. Finnishing Plays

Scouting Report:

A complete player with good size and tremendous offensive skills. Creates offensive plays and scoring chances every time he hits the ice. Has great movement with the puck and puckhandling skills. Smooth zone entries and shows extraordinary patience while carrying the puck, never panics when under pressure and stays calm even when pressured by multiple defenders. Is always in motion and makes it hard for defenders to neutralize him. Never quits and always hustles back when the puck is lost, shows decent defensive mind. Needs to shoot more in certain situations and could work on his physical game. However, he makes players around him better in every shift and always manages to create something in the offensive zone. Shows great understanding of the game. Auston is eligible for the Draft 2016 and expect him to be a top pick          

NHL Potential: Captain Material, who is excellent in the offensive zone and possess hockey sense.  

Style compares to: Anze Kopitar