THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack - Sept. 20, 2023
Welcome to the THW NHL Prospects & Draft Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our great team of writers.
In today’s edition, we have some takeaways from multiple prospect tournaments, our first look at Connor Bedard in a Chicago Blackhawks uniform, and a deep dive into the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best goaltending prospects.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Red Wings’ Takeaways From Traverse City Prospects Tournament
September 18, 2023 by Jordan Orth
With the annual Traverse City Prospects Tournament wrapping up, the high hopes that Detroit Red Wings fans had for the weekend did not translate to the ice, with the team going winless in three games. With that said, let’s take a look at some takeaways from the tournament for the Red Wings.
One player who did not necessarily light up the scoresheet but whose presence was felt is Elmer Soderblom. He was able to use his big frame to manipulate his way around defenders and into the dirty areas of the ice. He also made his presence felt in the offensive zone mainly in front of the net where he was able to tally a total of three goals over the three games he played in.
Bedard, Blackhawks Prospects Shine at Ted Kurvers Showcase
September 18, 2023 by Jim Bay
In his first action in a Chicago Blackhawks‘ uniform, Connor Bedard demonstrated why he was the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft when he netted a hat trick in the Ted Kurvers Prospect Showcase’s opening game. He also added an assist in leading the young Blackhawks to a 5-0 thumping over the prospects of the St. Louis Blues.
After the Blackhawks opened the scoring with a right-point shot from 2020 seventh-round selection Louis Crevier, Bedard scored his first goal on a Blackhawks power play when he lasered the puck into the top left corner from the right faceoff dot to extend the lead to 2-0. Colton Dach extended Chicago’s lead to 3-0 when the former second-rounder threw the puck to the net and a fortunate bounce off a Blues’ skate ricocheted into the back of the cage. Bedard added his second and third goals in the third period to finish the scoring for the Blackhawks prospects.
Coyotes Have Found Gems With Second & Third-Round Picks
September 18, 2023 by Cooper Krigbaum
When Arizona Coyotes general manager (GM) Bill Armstrong decided to tear the team down to its roots, it was clear a full-on rebuild was on the horizon. The team needed a reset after trading away the likes of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Conor Garland, Darcy Kuemper, and Christian Dvorak.
With all these trades, they received immense draft capital, allowing them to select elite talent. They have found plenty of high-skilled players, primarily in rounds two and three. With that said, here are some gems Armstrong and the scouting staff have found in the second and third rounds.
Maple Leafs’ Prospect Report: Akhtyamov, Hildeby & Kokkonen
September 17, 2023 by Andrew Forbes
Hockey season is heating up and leagues around the globe are getting under way. While some of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects are still showcasing themselves in Traverse City at the prospects tournament, others have kicked off their campaigns overseas and are turning heads with their respective teams.
With that said, this edition of the Maple Leafs prospect report will focus on goaltending this week — both in Traverse City as well as the VHL where one prospect picked up their first shutout of the season.
Canadiens Prospect Cederick Guindon Battling for an NHL Contract
September 16, 2023 by Blain Potvin
The Montreal Canadiens 2023 Rookie camp has opened, and it marks the official beginning of the NHL season for the club. It also provides an opportunity for players to get themselves noticed by management. One of those players is Rockland, Ontario native, Cedrick Guindon, who was selected by the Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The 19-year-old forward is entering his third and final Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season. Thus far, he has shown growth in his game each year, and the 2023-24 season cannot be an exception. Guindon needs a contract offer from the Canadiens before June 2024 or he could re-enter the draft or even become an unrestricted free agent (UFA).
Montreal Canadiens - 3 Underrated Canadiens Prospects to Watch at Rookie Camp
Detroit Red Wings - Red Wings Prospect Rankings: #10 Dmitri Buchlnikov
Philadelphia Flyers - Flyers’ Key Standouts From Rookie Camp Games
Minnesota Wild - Wild Prospect Report: Kurvers Showcase and KHL News