Some people I'm highlighting
15. Otto Stenberg, C/W, Frolunda (J20 Nationell), 5-foot-11, 181 pounds
The Swedish forward is a dynamic presence who can flash the exciting offensive intellect that makes for a dangerous scorer, but there are moments when his offensive game can wane a bit. Thankfully, there are so many areas of the ice where Stenberg seems to make an impact with his speed and skill. He can be an absolute pest on the forecheck. Understanding that he isn’t the biggest or strongest player, Stenberg will force himself between the puck and the opposing player in a board battle to establish body position. He will outskill and outwork the opposition in the neutral zone to win the puck back and then look to turn play up ice. When he is on his game offensively, he can absolutely dazzle with his skill, or he can thread the needle to teammates throughout the offensive zone. The upside is high with the high-octane forward.
17. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Allsevskan), 6-foot-1, 201 pounds
The Swedish forward is a dynamic presence who can flash the exciting offensive intellect that makes for a dangerous scorer, but there are moments when his offensive game can wane a bit. Thankfully, there are so many areas of the ice where Stenberg seems to make an impact with his speed and skill. He can be an absolute pest on the forecheck. Understanding that he isn’t the biggest or strongest player, Stenberg will force himself between the puck and the opposing player in a board battle to establish body position. He will outskill and outwork the opposition in the neutral zone to win the puck back and then look to turn play up ice. When he is on his game offensively, he can absolutely dazzle with his skill, or he can thread the needle to teammates throughout the offensive zone. The upside is high with the high-octane forward.
18. Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL), 6-foot-2, 187 pounds
Coming into the year, Ritchie was viewed as one of the top two-way centers in the draft class, with a real shot at challenging for the top five. Almost three months into the season, things haven’t gone as expected. The Generals forward has picked up his offensive production lately, but he’s struggled to stick around a point per game. Ritchie has shown evasive puck skill and a high-end shot in spurts, and his playmaking stems from intelligence, but he just hasn’t been able to find the scoresheet as much as he’d like. A big second half of the season could do him wonders.
21. Oliver Moore, C, NTDP (USHL), 5-foot-11, 176 pounds
The NTDP has a number of highly skilled players, and Oliver Moore slots in as the third member of the team in the first round. Moore has been the team's second-line center for most of the season with Danny Nelson and Will Vote on his wings. Moore is a dual threat who adapts to his teammates extremely well. He isn’t the fastest or biggest player, but he just plays hockey the way it should be played. Moore is a high-paced thinker who changes speeds, alters angles and moves the puck into high danger areas with regularity. Moore is a manipulative attacker, feinting one direction before bursting through space in another or stutter-stepping like an NFL wide receiver running a stop-and-start route.
23. Bradley Nadeau, C, Penticton (BCHL), 5-foot-10, 163 pounds
When you watch Nadeau play in the BCHL, you find yourself saying “Stop it, they’re dead already” as he puts up yet another multi-point game and looks dominant in the league. He is a lethal offensive player who thinks the game at a level that isn’t common in the BCHL. Nadeau is a dual-threat attacker, using his agility and skill to get to dangerous scoring areas while surveying the ice and understanding where and when to get his teammates the puck. He is committed to the University of Maine, which is why he is taking the BCHL route, but he very well could be a difference-maker at any level of junior hockey in North America.
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