There’s value to be found on second day of this draft
By Ryan Pike
4 years agoThe first day of the NHL Draft always gets the attention. There’s a draft lottery. There’s a podium. There’s players that have been hyped for years. But the Calgary Flames have a decent farm system because they can make hay on the second day of the draft and it’s worth mentioning that they have picks on the second day of the 2019 NHL Draft, too.
Here are a few names – 10 skaters and five goaltenders – to keep in mind as the Flames work their way into the second day of the NHL Draft.
Skaters
RW Alex Beaucage, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
Beaucage quietly had one of the more productive seasons of any draft-eligible QMJHL forwards. His five-on-five offensive production was on par with many of the projected first rounders, but there’s a decent chance that he can be had in the third round.
From Canucks Army’s profile:
A great goal-scorer and creative playmaker, Beaucage has good hands to go with a lethal shot. The 17-year-old has the size and tools to suggest NHL forward. His skating needs improvement, but his dominant year in the QMJHL showed just how hard he is to stop in the offensive zone.
D Samuel Bolduc, Blainville-Broisbriand (QMJHL)
Bolduc is a big-bodied defender, but he has surprising mobility. He really impressed at the Top Prospects Game in Red Deer with his ability to pick the right times to pinch, leading to several scoring chances for his team.
He has an old school, defensive defenceman mentality. While he has been able to put up decent numbers in the CHL, he projects more as a complementary player. He passes like a pro, uses his size to defend the cycle well, has good body position and a good stick.
LW Alexander Campbell, Victoria (BCHL)
Teammate Alex Newhook is touted as a contender to go early in the first round, but Campbell has been able to keep up with his play-making ability and help drive play for the Grizzlies.
Campbell is a pure goal-scorer and benefited from having Newhook on his line (a lot of defenders would set their sights on Newhook, allowing Campbell to exploit the extra room to his advantage). Campbell’s hands are very quick and he uses his speed to beat defenders.
RW Graeme Clarke, Ottawa (OHL)
Clarke ain’t big. He’s listed at 6’0″ and 174 pounds, but his calling card is his speed. He was superb at the Top Prospects Game, zipping around the ice and using the space his speed opened up to make smart passes.
Clarke ranks highest in the shooting categories of the tracked stats, which is what is expected with his talent as a triggerman. He also attempted to carry the puck out of the defensive zone for his team a lot this season with the goal of getting back to the offence as soon as possible (since he isn’t at his most comfortable in the defensive zone).
LW Samuel Fagemo, Frolunda HC (SHL)
Passed over in the 2018 NHL Draft, Fagemo went back to Sweden and had a heck of a year. He spent the majority of the year in the SHL, went to the World Juniors, and won a league championship.
Despite being overlooked in last year’s draft, Fagemo had a strong season in the Swedish Hockey League and will likely be selected as an overager. His calling card is a pure goal scorer, which he showed this season scoring 14 goals in 42 games as a rookie in the SHL.
RW Trevor Janicke , Central Illinois (USHL)
The Wings Nation crew love this kid. He captained his team and was an offensive leader on a not-great team.
I can see the Maple Grove, Minnesota native developing into a top-6 pivot who can contribute on both special teams and be given the tough match-ups. He doesn’t have game-breaking abilities to become a first liner, but the potential to be a 20 goal man down the middle is very enticing.
C Valentin Nussbaumer, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
A Swiss import, Nussbaumer is a wiry, elusive player who steadily scored this past season while adjusting to the Q. He’s already played in two World Juniors for Switzerland.
RW Ethan Phillips, Sioux Falls (USHL)
Originally from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Phillips could be the Flames’ annual “lost small child” late round pick. Listed at five-foot-nine and 146 pounds, he scored at just under a point-per-game pace in his first USHL season and helped the Stampede capture the Clark Cup championship.
C Albin Sundsvik, Skelleftea AIK (SuperElit)
A point-per-game player in junior, Sundsvik made the jump to the SHL late in the season and registered a goal. He’s struggled to register offense at major international outings, but his domestic performances suggest that there’s value there.
D Jackson van de Leest, Calgary (WHL)
The Hitmen don’t have any high-end prospects in this year’s draft, but van de Leest is a smart late round pick. He’s tall, smart in his own end, and seems poised for an offensive breakout next season as the young team matures and his role expands.
Goalies
Hugo Alnefelt, HV71 (SuperElit)
An agile young Swede, Alnefelt was excellent at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the Under-18 Worlds – capturing medals at each event.
Samuel Hlavaj, Lincoln (USHL)
The second-best USHL goalie – behind likely first rounder Spencer Knight – Hlavaj was clutch for a Stars team that played a lot of close games. He’s lanky and still filling out physically.
Trent Miner, Vancouver (WHL)
The backup in Vancouver, Miner was a big part of the Giants’ strong regular season – he didn’t play a ton during their march to the WHL championship final. He seems primed for a breakout and could be a great late round investment.
Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Listed at six-foot-six, Sogaard is as inconsistent as he is tall. But he’s only played one season on the smaller North American ice, and his big lanky frame likely has goalie coaches salivating. He performed great in Europe, so the big question is if he can adjust to the WHL and use his size to his advantage.
Dustin Wolf, Everett (WHL)
Mentored last season by Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carter Hart, Wolf became Everett’s starter this past season and was, in a word, great. He’s not ranked highly by Central Scouting because he’s barely 5-foot-11, but he’s a tremendous junior goaltender. If he’s available in the third or fourth rounds, they should grab him.
Odds Shark, your one-stop shop for picks, odds, betting news and trends – a resource for fans, bettors and media outlets looking for wagering info on all the sports and pop culture events you could want. Odds Shark is a proven powerhouse in the sports betting industry. We have odds from around the globe, giving you the opportunity to seek out the best sports betting information along with our recommendations for the best online sportsbooks on the planet. Fans and media outlets alike have access to decades of stats and trends from our easily accessible databases.
Recent articles from Ryan Pike
