Prospects Analysis: Pacific Division

This is the finale of a four-part series that has covered, dissected, and ranked the top prospects of each NHL organization. I covered 15 prospects for each club along with a potential sleeper. Some NHL organizations have considerably more than 15 players who project as potential assets down the line while other clubs barely made it to double digits. 

If a player has a number next to his name, it represents his overall ranking in our top-200. Scouting reports for the top-100 can be found here...
Part 1
Part 2

ANAHEIM DUCKS
Overview: Anaheim's prospect pool is on the upswing. They've made some shrewd early-round draft picks and hit on some later selections in recent years. They need to add more depth in both goal and on defense, but they're loaded up front and several of the players listed below should see significant NHL time this coming season.
1- Trevor Zegras (C) (11)
2- Sam Steel (C) (31)
3- Maxime Comtois (LW) (45)
4- Isac Lundestrom (LW) (51)
5- Josh Mahura (D) (140)
6- Lukas Dostal (G) (162)
7- Benoit-Olivier Groulx (C) (166)
8- Brayden Tracey (LW)
9- Henry Thrun (D)
10- Jackson LaCombe (D)
11- Antoine Morand (C)
12- Jack Kopacka (LW)
13- Blake McLaughlin (C)
14- Jack Badini (LW)
15- Olle Eriksson Ek (G)
Sleeper: Jack Perbix (RW)
Summary: Mahura is an athletic, mobile offensive defenseman. He showed well in a 17-game stint with Anaheim (five points) last year despite spending most of the season in the AHL. He'll never be the type to log shutdown defensive minutes, but I think he can be an asset for a winning hockey club. Dostal played for no less than five different teams last season in both his native Czech Republic and Finland. Already signed to his entry-level deal, the 2018 third-rounder should have a permanent home with Ilves of the Finnish league this year. Groulx is a cerebral, under appreciated two-way forward. I'd be shocked if he didn't develop into an NHL regular in some capacity. Tracey was one of the final cuts from my top 200. I wouldn't have taken him 29th overall this past June, but his stock was rising throughout the draft process and Anaheim has never been afraid to take WHL kids. Thrun has the size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and smarts to develop into a nice complementary defensive option. He's committed to Harvard. LaCombe has a much higher offensive ceiling but carries considerably more risk. He spent last season beating up on over matched prep kids at Shattuck St. Mary's and will play this season at the University of Minnesota. Morand has always been hit or miss for me. There are games in which he's the best player on the ice and others in which he fades to the background. He never scored more than 76 points during his QMJHL career. I'm interested to see how he fares at the AHL level this fall. Kopacka is a max-effort guy who will have to use his size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) in order to make it as an NHL regular. McLaughlin was fairly effective (five goals, 20 points in 35 games) during his first season at the University of Minnesota, but his play away from the puck still needs some refinement. He's a candidate for this year's United States World Junior team. Badini is entering his junior year at Harvard. He should make for nice AHL depth down the road, but he's probably an up-and-down guy. Eriksson Ek should get a chance in the AHL as a 20-year-old but a return to Sweden remains a possibility if Anaheim struggles to find him consistent playing time this season. The Ducks clearly didn't already have enough University of Minnesota products in their system, so they spent a fourth-rounder on Perbix this past June. There's some offense to his game, but I'm not sure how well it will translate to the collegiate ranks. 

ARIZONA COYOTES
Overview: I was pretty surprised to see how poor the Coyotes' system currently is considering how much they've struggled over the past several seasons. They placed three players in my top 200, fewer than any other NHL team. Of course, many of the players on their NHL roster are young, so that offsets the lack of depth in some respect. Still, there's not a whole heck of a lot here, particularly when it comes to high-upside, long-term lottery tickets. 
1- Barrett Hayton (C) (15)
2- Victor Soderstrom (D) (68)
3- Nate Schnarr (184) (C) 
4- Ty Emberson (D)
5- Matias Maccelli (LW)
6- John Farinacci (C)
7- Filip Westerlund (D)
8- Nicholas Merkley (C)
9- Cameron Crotty (D)
10- Adin Hill (G)
11- Jan Jenik (C)
12- Ivan Prosvetov (G)
13- Kevin Bahl (D)
14- Kyle Capobianco (D)
15- Dennis Busby (D)
Sleeper: David Tendeck (G)
Summary: Schnarr finished tied for sixth in OHL scoring last season with 102 points in 65 games. He'll turn pro this year and is a more well-rounded offensive player than I first thought when he was drafted 75th overall in 2017. Emberson, like a number of guys in the Arizona system, has a high floor and low ceiling. I like his chances of developing into a serviceable third-pairing guy that provides a minimal amount of offense. He'll be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin this season.  Maccelli finished third (31 goals, 72 points in 62 games) in USHL scoring this past season. He'll return home to play in his native Finland this year as opposed to playing collegiate hockey in the United States. Farinacci was the top New England prep player available in the 2019 draft. Arizona took him in the third round. We'll get a better read on his long-term offensive potential when he heads to Harvard this fall. Westerlund is much like Emberson in the sense that I expect him to produce many seasons of solid, unheralded NHL service. Merkley is a former first-round pick (30th overall, '15) who has struggled to remain healthy throughout his career. He's a talented guy, but he might need a change-of-scenery trade in order to breakout. Remember what I mentioned about Emberson and Westerlund? Add that to Crotty, too. Hill showed enough during his 13-game stint with Arizona last season to prove that he might be capable of developing into a long-term NHL backup. Jenik began last season in the Czech Republic before ending up with OHL Hamilton. He's eligible to play this year in the AHL, but his modest production at the junior level (30 points in 27 games) makes it likely that he'll return to the Bulldogs for one more season. Prosvetov shouldered a heavy workload (53 games) in what should end up being his only OHL campaign. The 2018 fourth-rounder will battle for playing time with AHL Tuscon this season. Bahl is 6-foot-6 and the very definition of a stay-at-home defenseman. He gets beat wide too often for my liking, but his reach is an asset. Capobianco can contribute some offense from the back end. He should be one of the first recalls this season if the Coyotes defensive corps suffers injuries. I've always liked Busby, but he's played a grand total of 29 games over the past two seasons. He's one of the rare high-upside lottery tickets I mentioned Arizona was lacking. Tendeck, a sixth-rounder in 2018, has forced people to take notice with his excellent play (2.48 GAA, .911 save percentage in 38 games) for WHL Vancouver. He has one season of junior eligibility remaining. 

CALGARY FLAMES
Overview: Calgary's system is lousy and it got even worse when their top prospect, defenseman Juuso Valimaki, tore his ACL while training in his native Finland this summer. The Flames haven't put a timetable on his recovery, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him miss the entire 2019-20 season. Off the top of my head, I would probably have Calgary ranked right there with the Penguins in terms of the weakest prospect pools in the league.
1- Juuso Valimaki (D) (90)
2- Jakob Pelletier (LW) (115)
3- Mathais Emilio Pettersen (C) (125)
4- Ilya Nikolayev (C) (172)
5- Dustin Wolf (G)
6- Adam Ruzicka (C)
7- Alexander Yelesin (D)
8- Dmitri Zavgorodny (C)
9- Glenn Gawdin (C)
10- Artyom Zagidulin (G)
11- Milos Roman (C)
12- Filip Sveningsson (LW)
13- Matthew Phillips (C)
14- Eetu Tuulola (RW)
15- Josh Nodler (C)
Sleeper: Demetrios Koumontzis (LW)
Summary: Pelletier is a solid offensive player who's floor is raised due to an exceptional compete level. He works his tail off and goes to the difficult areas of the ice to make plays despite the fact that he's listed at 5-foot-9 and about 160 pounds. Pettersen had no business falling to the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He was one of collegiate hockey's best freshman (30 points in 40 games) at the University of Denver last season, and could conceivably turn pro after another strong campaign with the Pioneers. I'm skeptical of Nikolayev's ability to score at the NHL level, but he has the look of a solid, two-way, third-line center who can chip in some offense here and there. My comparison for him has always been St. Louis forward Ivan Barbashev. In a league that is in dire need of more legitimate goaltending prospects, it's insane to think that Wolf fell all the way to the 214th pick in this past June's draft. Heck, there were only 217 picks made in total! Wolf posted exceptional numbers for WHL Everett last season (1.69 GAA, .936 save percentage in 61 games), but his skeptics are concerned about his lack of size. Wolf is only six feet tall and the vast majority of NHL goalies are bigger than that these days. Ruzicka has all the talent in the world but displayed inconsistent effort during his junior career. He'll turn pro this season. Yelesin is a 23-year-old KHL veteran who might open the season as Calgary's seventh defenseman. The Valimaki injury helps his cause. Zavgorodny has a shot to make it as a power-play specialist in the NHL. Gawdin isn't going to post 56 goals and 125 points as a professional like he did during his final WHL campaign, but he's proven to be a versatile enough player to put himself in position for a recall at some point this season. Zagidulin was signed out of the KHL as an undrafted free agent. He might get a look with the Flames this year if Cam Talbot's debut season in Calgary is the disaster many are anticipating. Roman is a decent all-around player, but I'm not sure he does any one thing well enough to make it as a pro. Sveningsson had a really good season (27 points in 43 games) in the second-tier Swedish league last year. His stock will skyrocket if he proves that he can continue to generate offense in the SHL. Phillips has scored wherever he's played, but hoping a 155-pound, former sixth-round pick will develop into a consistent scorer at the NHL level is a big ask. He might be an up-and-down guy. I like Tuulola's offensive arsenal more than most as he gets set to make his North American debut, but I'm worried about his lack of foot speed. Nodler is a draft-and-stash collegiate prospect, but he's going to a school (Michigan State) that has struggled to develop offensive players in recent years. Koumontzis played considerably better in his freshman season at Arizona State (four goals, 20 points in 35 games) than his numbers would lead you to believe. He's an excellent passer and was a fourth-rounder in 2018. 

EDMONTON OILERS
Overview: The Oilers have slowly (finally) added some depth to their prospect pool. The group remains really, really light on potential impact offensive players, but they have depth on defense and some intriguing long-term goaltending options. There's no quick fix for Edmonton despite the fact that they have the best player in the world (Connor McDavid) on their roster.
1- Evan Bouchard (D) (32)
2- Philip Broberg (D) (53)
3- Raphael Lavoie (C) (86)
4- Tyler Benson (LW) (177)
5- Dmitri Samorukov (D) (191)
6- Ryan McLeod (C) 
7- Ilya Konovalov (G)
8- Olivier Rodrigue (G)
9- Phil Kemp (D)
10- Cooper Marody (C)
11- Caleb Jones (D)
12- Kirill Maksimov (RW) 
13- Gaetan Haas (C)
14- Joakim Nygard (LW)
15- Joel Persson (D)
Sleeper: Matej Blumel (RW)
Summary: Benson led all AHL rookies in assists last season (51) while being named to the league's All-Rookie Team. He's always been a terrific offensive player who has struggled to remain healthy. He may begin this coming year back in the minors, but it's difficult to see a scenario in which he doesn't spend the majority of the season in Edmonton. Samorukov is a personal favorite of mine. I see a big, two-way guy who can contribute some offense along the way. I wish McLeod posted a few more points relative to how well he skates, but his speed gives him a high floor as he gets set to turn pro in 2019-20. Konovalov responded to not being selected in the 2018 draft by posting a 1.89 GAA and .930 save percentage in 45 KHL games last season. The Oilers rectified the mistake of all 31 NHL franchises by spending a third-round pick on the 21-year-old this past June. I like Konovalov slightly more than Rodrigue, but Rodrigue is two years younger and is already playing in North America. His QMJHL rights have been dealt from Drummondville to Moncton. Kemp will never provide much offense but he's a steady, reliable defenseman. Set for his junior season at Yale, the Oilers need to get him signed ASAP since players aren't exactly beating down the door to head to Edmonton. Marody's averaged more than a point-per-game (19 goals, 64 points in 58 games) in his first AHL campaign. The 22-year-old is destined to spend a good chunk of this coming season in Edmonton. Jones has seemingly fallen out of favor in Edmonton despite his skating and puck-moving ability. I realize salary is a consideration, but I'd much rather give minutes to Jones than Kris Russell. Maksimov posted 74 goals and 159 points over his final two OHL seasons. He can score and has some bite to his game. He turns pro this fall. Haas (Switzerland) and Nygard (Sweden) were both signed out of Europe this summer in hopes of strengthening Edmonton's forward group. They could both begin the season in the NHL given the group of players they are competing against for a roster spot, but it's hard to see both in anything other than a bottom-six role, if that.  Persson is signed to a one-year, entry-level deal. I expect him to get a long look in camp, but he's an offense-only defenseman, and I don't see how he'd get enough time with the man advantage to make an impact this year as long as Bouchard is on the roster. Blumel was an upside selection in the fourth round this past June. Equally adept at both playmaking and finishing, the 19-year-old is off to the University of Connecticut. 

LOS ANGELES KINGS
Overview: The Kings had the worst system in the NHL as recently as a couple years ago. Now, not only is it not the worst, it might actually be the very best. The Kings placed more players in my top-200 (12) than any other NHL club. They remain very light in goal, but there's a ton of help on the way on defense and at all three forward positions. That's definitely a good thing because there's very little talent on their current NHL roster.
1- Alex Turcotte (C) (7)
2- Rasmus Kupari (C) (12)
3- Arthur Kaliyev (RW) (47)
4- Akil Thomas (C) (60)
5- Gabriel Vilardi (C) (78)
6- Kale Clague (D) (105)
7- Jaret Anderson-Dolan (C) (109)
8- Carl Grundstrom (LW) (135)
9- Sean Durzi (D) (148)
10- Tobias Bjornfot (D) (154)
11- Samuel Fagemo (LW) (159)
12- Nikolay Prokhorkin (LW) (178)
13- Mikey Anderson (D)
14- Markus Phillips (D)
15- Jordan Spence (D)
Sleeper: Lukas Parik (G)
Summary: Clague posted 29 points in 52 games in his first AHL season. He's an offense-only, power-play type, but he should be able to help the Kings at some point in 2019-20. Anderson-Dolan actually spent five games in Los Angeles last season before being sent back to the WHL. He's a do-it-all, two-way forward who could be a potential captain for the Kings in the future. Grundstrom came over from Toronto in the Jake Muzzin deal and posted five goals in 15 games with Los Angeles late in the year. I like his chances of making it as a 20-goal third-liner. Durzi was also part of the Muzzin trade. His doubters will say he's not big or defensively responsible enough to make at as a pro, but every single time you watch the kid play he creates offense. Bjornfot was the 22nd overall pick in 2019. He's a lock to play in the league, but I see a low-upside/high-floor guy. I would have looked elsewhere with that pick. Fagemo was eligible for the 2018 draft but wasn't selected. He was taken 50th overall by the Kings this past June. Already signed to his entry-level deal, Fagemo will likely be loaned back to Sweden for one final season. Prokhorkin returns to North America for the first time since the 2012-13 season. He's posted 74 points in 89 games over the past two KHL seasons and the Kings will have no choice but to give him an extended run at the NHL level. Anderson will turn pro after two seasons at Minnesota-Duluth. I like him as a third-pairing defender who can chip in some offense. He should begin this season in the AHL. Phillips is in the same boat as Anderson, although perhaps with a bit less dependability. Spence is a high-end lottery ticket. He possesses some dynamic offensive traits, but he's very small and slight. Parik is a 6-foot-4 monster who made his name for his native Czech Republic on the international stage. He's an interesting long-term play for a system that lacks goaltending depth. 

SAN JOSE SHARKS
Overview: Because they've traded so many picks over the past several years, the Sharks have had to dig deep in order to build their prospect pool. Their system isn't in great shape, but it could be a whole lot worse. They've hit on some late-round selections and some others who have inexplicably dropped in the draft. It's a clear bottom-third group for me, but there's some help on the way.  
1- Ryan Merkley (D) (61)
2- Alex Chmelevski (C) (94)
3- Ivan Chekhovich (LW) (117)
4- Jonathan Dahlen (LW) (157)
5- Noah Gregor (C) (188)
6- Dylan Gambrell (C)
7- Artemi Kniazev (D)
8- Mario Ferraro (D)
9- Dillon Hamaliuk (LW)
10- Jeremy Roy (D)
11- Joachim Blichfeld (LW)
12- Vladislav Kotkov (LW)
13- Maxim Letunov (C)
14- Yegor Spiridonov (C)
15- Tony Sund (D)
Sleeper: Andrew Shortridge (G)
Summary: Chekhovich has already exceeded expectations as a former seventh-round (2017) pick. He posted 43 goals and 105 points in the QMJHL last year and was impressive in a late-season AHL cameo. He could be a second-liner if everything breaks right. Dahlen played worse in his first AHL season (14 goals, 33 points in 57 games) than the numbers indicate. He'll return to his native Sweden this year in hopes of finding his game. I'm a believer in the player, but he needs to rebound. I like Gregor more than most, but I acknowledge his massive final WHL season (43 goals, 88 points in 63 games) may have been the result of being an over-age player. Gambrell looks like a solid middle-six guy who can contribute some offense, potentially as early as this season. Kniazev skates well and has offensive ability. His minutes at even strength must be sheltered, but he should eventually help San Jose's power play. Ferraro's work ethic is exceptional and he should quickly become a fan favorite. I'm worried about how hard he plays given the fact that he's not very big (6-foot-1, 185 pounds), but he'll be an NHL defenseman for as long as his body holds up. Hamaliuk's potential depends on his ability to recover from a lower-body injury that cost him the second half of the 2018-19 season. Roy has limited upside, but he might make it as an up-and-down guy. Blichfeld (53 goals, 114 points in 68 games) is coming off a season in which he was the WHL's leading scorer and named league MVP. The odds are against him given the fact that he was a former seventh-rounder (2016), but he's a legitimate prospect as he gets set to turn pro this year. Kotkov is big (6-foot-4) and has some skill. He's a better long-term bet than your average undrafted free agent. I remain a stubborn believer in Letunov. I expect significant improvement in his second AHL season. Spiridonov will be nothing more than a high-end lottery ticket until he can prove that his skill set will translate while playing against men in the KHL. Sund could help the Sharks this season as a two-way depth defenseman. He was signed as a free agent out of Finland in May. Shortridge signed with San Jose as an undrafted free agent following three excellent seasons at Quinnipiac. He could factor into the team's long-term plans in goal. 

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Overview: Vegas would have arguably the top system in the league had they not dealt Nick Suzuki to Montreal in the Max Pacioretty deal, Erik Brannstrom to Ottawa for Mark Stone, and Nikita Gusev to New Jersey in a salary cap trade. Their system is still loaded, and features a nice mix of guys ready to contribute now and long-term, upside plays.
1- Cody Glass (C) (5)
2- Peyton Krebs (C) (50)
3- Nicolas Hague (D) (77)
4- Lucas Elvenes (RW) (100)
5- Pavel Dorofeyev (LW) (110)
6- Ivan Morozov (C) (139)
7- Jack Dugan (LW) (165)
8- Jimmy Schuldt (D)
9- Kaedan Korzcak (D)
10- Paul Cotter (C)
11- Jake Leschyshyn (C)
12- Nicolas Roy (C)
13- Marcus Kallionkieli (LW)
14- Stanislav Demin (D)
15- Ryder Donovan (C)
Sleeper: Isaiah Saville (G)
Summary: I was surprised that Dorofeyev ended up falling to the later stages of Round 3 this past June. Some publications had him rated as a potential first-round talent. Morozov's KHL rights belong to SKA St. Petersburg and that will make it difficult for him to earn minutes at the top level in Russia this season. He's more likely to spend the year with their second-tier club. Dugan was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team following a shockingly productive freshman season (39 points in 41 games) at Providence. He will be a top-100 guy if he can follow it up with another strong year in 2019-20. Schuldt had countless offers from NHL clubs following his four-year career at St. Cloud State, but decided to sign in Vegas. The trade of Colin Miller to Buffalo figures to open up a full-time role for the 24-year-old. He's a useful two-way defender. Korzcak should have a long NHL career as long as he's deployed correctly. His pucks skills are below average and he won't provide any offense. Cotter left Western Michigan University following eight games to join OHL London last year. I remain on the fence about his long-term potential, but he'll need multiple years of seasoning regardless. Leschyshyn is the son of a former NHL player, so it's no surprise that his hockey IQ is fantastic. How much offense he'll provide remains to be seen. Roy came over from Carolina in late June in a deal involving Erik Haula. His lack of foot speed will probably limit him from reaching his ceiling of a middle-six/power-play sniper. Kallionkielli has already signed his entry-level deal after being taken in the fifth round this past June. He's decided to play this upcoming season with WHL Brandon. Your system is in good shape if Demin is your No. 14 prospect. He had a solid freshman season at the University of Denver last year and should spend at least three seasons playing collegiate hockey. Donovan is a big body with a limited offensive arsenal. He's committed to the University of Wisconsin. Saville's numbers for USHL Tri-City last season (1.90 GAA, .925 save percentage in 34 games) were exceptional. He's off to the non-traditional hockey powerhouse that is the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  

VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Overview: The good news is Vancouver placed more players in my top 100 (seven) than any other team. The downside is there's significant risk surrounding most of their prospects and they had several guys take monumental steps backwards this past season. There's definitely a scenario in which this group ends up being one of the very best in the league, but it's far from guaranteed. 
1- Quinn Hughes (D) (4)
2- Vasili Podkolzin (RW) (38)
3- Olli Juolevi (D) (75)
4- Nils Hoglander (LW) (76)
5- Michael DiPietro (G) (80)
6- Thatcher Demko (G) (82)
7- Tyler Madden (C) (91)
8- Jett Woo (D)
9- William Lockwood (RW)
10- Jack Rathbone (D)
11- Jonah Gadjovich (LW)
12- Kole Lind (RW)
13- Linus Karlsson (C)
14- Ethan Keppen (LW)
15- Brogan Rafferty (D)
Sleeper- Jack Malone (C)
Summary: Woo plays the game at 100 miles per hour. I have reservations about his offensive game as a pro, but he's going to drive opposing forwards insane for as long as his body holds up. Lockwood has shown zero interest in signing with Vancouver up to this point. Entering his senior season at Michigan, I would wager the odds are better than 50/50 that he goes elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent late next summer. Rathbone is neither large nor dynamic, but he skates fairly well and has some offensive ability. He will be a sophomore at Harvard in 2019-20. Making their professional debuts in 2018-19, Gadjovich and Lind combined to post nine goals and 27 points in 94 AHL games. They were both dreadful, but Gadjovich's struggles were more concerning because one of his biggest assets is that he already has a physically mature, NHL-ready body. Karlsson was acquired from San Jose in exchange for Jonathan Dahlen. I'd rather have Dahlen, but there's a decent chance neither are future NHL contributors. Keppen is a big forward who you never have to ask twice to shoot the puck. Rafferty signed with Vancouver as an undrafted free agent out of Quinnipiac. He skates well enough to project as a potential third-pairing or up-and-down guy. Not bad for a player who was essentially free to acquire. Malone was a sixth-rounder in 2019. He has a chance to be an immediate contributor for a Cornell team that features plenty of offensive firepower.