Ilya Samsonov

Team: Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk

photo by tumblr.com

League: MHL

Position: Goaltender

Born: 22nd February 1997

Height: 6.3       

Weight: 201
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Athleticism	Good
Quickness/Speed	Good
Vision/Play reading	Good
Puckhandling	Good
Compete	Good
Technique/Style	Good
Rebound Control	Average
Size	Excellent
Competitiveness	Good

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

Strengths

1. Athleticism

2. Size

3. Able to make big saves

Area’s For Improvement

1. Rebound Control

2. High Shots

3. Proactive Puckhandling

Scouting Report:

A big goalie who is challenging shooters pretty well and covers the whole net. Has great athleticism and quick movement. Shows good agility and flexibility. Is very calm and tracks the puck well but he impresses the most with his ability to make acrobatic saves. Needs to improve his rebound control, especially on high shots and could use his stickhandling in a more proactive way. But clearly one of the best Russian goalie prospects since Andrei Vasilevsky, who has potential to be an NHL starter if teams aren't afraid of the Russian factor.                        

NHL Potential: Starting goalie, who has good size and great athleticism.  

Style compares to: Sergei Bobrovski

Colin White

Team: U.S. National U18 Team

photo by usantdp.com

League: USHL/USDP

Position: Center/RW

Born: 30th January 1997

Height: 6.0       

Weight: 183
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

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

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

Strengths

1. Shot

2. Two-Way Game

3. Strength/Balance

Area’s For Improvement

1. No High End Skills

2. Too many scoring chances not executed

3. Puckhandling

Scouting Report:

A good two-way forward with good work ethic who plays a smart game in all three zones. Possesses a powerful, accurate shot and shows good defensive mind. Is a good skater with decent speed and strong on his knees. Isn't afraid to play with a physical edge and is hard to knock off the puck. Is good around the net and often utilizes rebounds. He has no high end skills and leaves too many chances unutulized. Isn't the biggest guy on the ice but this is not going to stop him to work hard, play physical and go in front of the net. Has the full package and can be a very competitive two-way forward.                   

NHL Potential: Two-Way Forward, who works good in all three zones and possesses a good shot.  

Style compares to: Ryan Callahan

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

Jack Roslovic

Team: U.S. National U18 Team

photo by wcpo.com

League: USHL/USDP

Position: RW

Born: 29th January 1997

Height: 6.1       

Weight: 183
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

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

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

Strengths

1. Skating Agility

2. Work Ethic

3. Energy level

Area’s For Improvement

1. Balance

2. Eliminate Blind Passes

3. Sometimes tries to do too much

Scouting Report:

An energetic forward who brings a lot of speed and impulses to the ice. Is a very agile skater with explosive first steps and can go in different directions very fast even with the puck on his stick. Able to dance through the offensive zone with good puck protection and fast turns. Good in traffic areas, decent puckhandler and solid own zone play. Works very hard on the ice and is willing to battle in each shift. Great work ethic. Needs to work on his balance and tends to blind passes. He sometimes tries to do too much and might not possess high end scoring skills but he makes it up with his mindset and willingness to sacrifice his body to take one for the team. Can be found everywhere on the ice and is bringing energy to the ice in each shift.               

NHL Potential: 3rd liner, who brings a lot of energy to the ice and has a good work ethic.  

Style compares to: Jason Zucker

Joel Eriksson Ek

Team: Färjestads

photo by farjestadbk.se

League: SHL

Position: Center

Born: 29th January 1997

Height: 6.2       

Weight: 185
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

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

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

Strengths

1. Shot

2. Net Presence

3. Work Ethic

Area’s For Improvement

1. First Steps

2. Skating

3. No High End Scoring Skills

Scouting Report:

A gritty center with good size and likes to get his nose dirty. Uses his big body to protect the puck well and wins corner battles. Drives the net and goes into dirty areas. Tries to be in your face each shift and is a good agitator. Good net presence to screen and provoke rebounds. Has a nose for scoring and seems always in good position. Can play physical and is present in after whistle scrums. His first steps are not the fastest and his skating abilities are improvable. Eriksson Ek is a very competitive center with a good scoring touch and great work ethic. Besides his good shot, he might not have high end scoring assets but is doing all for the win and fits into NHL style hockey.             

NHL Potential: Two-Way Forward with good work ethic, who works good in all three zones.  

Style compares to: Mika Zibanejad

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

Denis Guryanov

photo by iihf.com

Team: Ladia Togliatti

League: MHL

Position: Winger

Born: 7th June 1997

Height: 6.2       

Weight: 192
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

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

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

Strengths

1. Shot

2. Offensive Play

3. Size/Strength

Area’s For Improvement

1. First Steps

2. Defensive Game

3. Lacking experience in pro league

Scouting Report:

A typical Russian power forward with good size and an absolute rocket shot. Loves to fire the puck and uses his whole shot arsenal to score. Shoots whenever he finds an open lane. Like many Russian players, he has good hands and is decent in 1vs1 situations. Uses his big body to make room for plays and brings himself in good shooting position, often wins corner battles. Is a good puck protector as well. Tries to be more responsible in his own zone but still needs to improve his defensive game. Has good top speed but his first steps could be more explosive. Finishes checks and has good balance. Guryanov is an offensive threat whenever he is having the puck in the offensive zone and can be an effective power forward because of his overall competitiveness, strength and great shot.           

NHL Potential: Power Forward, who has a rocket shot and plays a good physical with his big size.  

Style compares to: Blake Wheeler