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FuriousChicken · 05-12-2023, 02:06 PM

Welcome to a quick introduction to the top prospects for the S71 SHL Draft. The stats that have been taken for this are the stats the players started play-offs with, updates after play-offs haven’t been taken into account. This will take the top 30 prospects, which are all prospects above 250 TPE. When a tie occurred I took the bank account of each player as the tie breaker.

So let’s start with the 2 teams who didn’t make play-offs in the Regina Elk and the Saint Louis Scarecrows.

The Regina Elk has 2 of the top 30 prospects. So let’s get started:

Player: Mercedes Baylé
User: Bayley
Position: Left Winger
TPE: 277
Bank: 98,362,000
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 12th
Draft: 15th OA

Mercedes Baylé is currently the 12th highest TPE player among this draft class. With a high bank account there is a good chance for this left winger of the USA to go high in the draft. With a 15OA in the previous draft there is a good likelihood for Baylé to go higher OA in the SHL draft.

Player: Just-to-Buy-My-Love
User: JURT
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 250
Bank: 150,750,973
IIHF: Finland
Class Rank: 28th
Draft: 5th OA
Just-to-Buy-My-Love is another great prospect being the 28th highest TPE player in this draft class, but with the highest bank of everyone in this class whichever SHL team drafts Love doesn’t need to worry about if the player is gonna earn enough or not. This RW will be a good draft whichever team drafts Love. Love was a 5th OA in the SJHML draft and is from the nation of Finland.

The Regina Elk has 2 players in the top 30 of this draft class. Which is pretty good, especially as both of these players have a really juicy bank account to ensure they can at the very least get their training and coaching done for the foreseeable future.

Now onto the St. Louis Scarecrows. The Scarecrows also have 2 prospects in this top 30.

Player: Dominik Winters
User: 39alaska39
Position: Center
TPE: 281
Bank: 22,471,500
IIHF: Czechia
Class Rank: 7th
Draft: 3th OA

Dominik Winters is a top 10 TPE player in the current prospect roster. Winter was drafted in 3rd OA during the last SJHML draft by the Scarecrows and has proven to be a great prospect being 7th highest overall of all the prospects. This center is eligible for Czechia and has a nice bank account to survive for a while without needing to earn heavily. Whichever SHL team drafts Winters will for sure have a great player in their roster.

Player: Jay Bryzi
User: JaytheGreat
Position: Right Defense
TPE: 276
Bank: 47,177,000
IIHF: Unassigned
Class Rank: 14th
Draft: 11th OA

Jay Bryzi is another great prospect from the Scarecrows. Having the 14th highest TPE of this class, and being drafted 11th OA, Bryzi has shown to be one of the top defensive prospects for this draft. Having a nice buffer in the bank account to survive a season or 2 without earning this right defender will be a prospect that many teams will want to pick up. The IIHF can also pay attention as this player doesn’t have an IIHF nation yet.

The Scarecrows have one amazing group of players. Bryzi and Winters are both great players, who are 14th and 7th overall respectively.

Now onto the teams who got eliminated in round 1 of the play-offs. For SHL teams it might count a little bit that all of the players from now on have some play-off experience. These include the Kelowna Knights, Vancouver Whalers, Quebec City Citadelles, and the Anchorage Armada.

So let’s start with the Kelowna Knights who got knocked out 4-3 by the Yukon Malamutes in the first round. Despite only having 1 player the Kelowna Knights do have a great player in:
Player: Logan Webb
User: spidey
Position: Left Winger
TPE: 280
Bank: 86,140,000
IIHF: Czechia
Class Rank: 9th
Draft: 26th OA

In hindsight it is one big surprise how Webb came in only 26th OA. Having been a great earner in TPE, with a by now great bank balance the Kelowna Knights surely did some great scouting to pick up Webb. This left winger from Czechia is a really good pick for whichever SHL team decides to pick Webb up.

So despite only having 1 player in the top 30 like said before the Kelowna Knights have managed to make that player count with the presence of Logan Webb.

Now onto the Vancouver Whalers who got knocked out in round 1 after a 4-1 loss against the Carolina Kraken. With a massive 5 players in the top 30. That is nearly 1/6th of all players, and these are also not the weakest players the Vancouver Whalers have a great pool of players.. Now onto the players.

Player: Bellamy Blake
User: RainDelay
Position: Left Defense
TPE: 287
Bank: 52,562,900
IIHF: Unassigned
Class Rank: 3rd
Draft: 17th OA

First on the list is Bellamy Blake. Being picked up 17th OA in the SJHML draft Blake is now the 3rd highest TPE player of the S71 player pool. Blake is on top of this a defender which are in high demand, and has a nice bank amount to ensure the SHL teams need to take Blake into account no matter which pick they have in the draft.

Player: Thomas Liebold
User: Hungry Fella
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 282
Bank: 7,160,000
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 6th
Draft: 40th OA

A 40th overall draft pick, who is now the 6th best player in this talent pool. Honestly the Whalers have done some absolutely phenomenal scouting. But now onto the player. Liebold is the 6th best playing in the draft pool, and has made a great right winger which the Whalers, USA, and whichever SHL team picks up Blake will most likely be shining for each of these teams. The only small piece of doubt might be the smallish bank balance.

Player: Johnny Fourstar
User: Whikadoodle
Position: Right Winger
TPE 278:
Bank: 63,600,500
IIHF: Sweden
Class Rank: 10th
Draft: 37th OA

Once again another great player. The 10th OA player who got picked up with the 37th pick for the Whalers. Fourstar is a great right winger from Sweden, who on top of a top 10 in TPE has a great bank account which will be able to cover a few seasons of SHL play.

Player: Inactive Forever
User: kit
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 278
Bank: 17,919,005
IIHF: Japan
Class Rank: 11th
Draft: 31st OA

Inactive Forever, the name might spell doom but so far Inactive Forever has been active. After being the 31st pick during the SJHML draft Forever has just missed out of the top 10 TPE in the class. But still being the 11th best player, with a decent fallback bank amount still shows that this RIght Winger from Japan is definitely capable of going high in the upcoming draft.

Player: Bob Wehadababyitsaboy
User: Inf1d3l
Position: Left Defense
TPE: 250
Bank: 24,468,000
IIHF: Czechia
Class Rank: 29th
Draft: 1st OA

The 1st OA pick from the SJHML draft has “only” managed to be the 30th best player in this talent pool. The left defender from Czechia does have a nice amount of money in the bank being able to cover for a certain amount the SHL training sessions.

What more to say from the Vancouver Whalers. They have 5 players in the top 30 which is a massive amount, and 3 of those are even top 10 players (with a 4th coming in 11th). There are most likely a multitude of scouts from different SHL teams watching this team to see which of these great players to pick up.

Next up are last season's champions, the Quebec City Citadelles. This season was a bit of a disappointment at least compared to last season with the Citadelles losing 4-2 against the Detroit Falcons in the first round. On top of this the Quebec City Citadelles don’t have any players from the top 30 for the next draft.

Now the last team knocked out in the first round, in the Anchorage Armada. The Armada lost 4-2 against the Great Falls Grizzlies. The Anchorage Armada has 2 players in the top 30 of the next SHL draft.

Player: Finn Weiß
User: TnlAstatine
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 284
Bank: 7,577,069
IIHF: Germany
Class Rank: 4th
Draft: 7th OA

Finn Weiß was always expected to be a great player going 7th overall in the SJHML draft, and so far Weiß has managed to exceed expectations being the 4th best player in the draft pool. Weiß does have a slight negative being the pretty low bank balance, but other than this the German right winger has shown to be a great talent in this draft pool.

Player: Barg Hazbite
User: MMFLEX
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 256
Bank: 11,300,000
IIHF: Great Britain
Class Rank: 24th
Draft: 21st OA

Berg Hazbite has been a good rookie for the Achorage Armada. Being the 24th best player in the talent pool, while being picked up 21 overall Hazbite has lived up to the expectations. This right winger from Great Britain also has a bit saved up in the bank.

The Anchorage Armada is another team which had a good draft. It might look pretty middling compared to the Vancouver Whalers talent pool but still 2 players in the top 30, 1 being a top 5 player is a great achievement.

With that we had our round 1 exits, now onto the round 2 exits which are players with either a high league finishing position, or at least 1 play-off series under their belt before entering this one. The teams included in the next list are the Great Falls Grizzlies (2nd round), Detroit Falcons (2nd round), Colorado Raptors (1st in division), and the Carolina Kraken (2nd round).

Let’s start with the Great Falls Grizzlies. Who after getting through round 1 against the Armada lost in round 2 against the Nevada Battleborn with 4-1. The Grizzlies have 3 talents in the top 30 of this SHL draft pool.

Player: Levin Schattenaxt
User: KlusteR
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 276
Bank: 98,700,000
IIHF: Switzerland
Class Rank: 13th
Draft: 4th OA

Levin Schattenaxt came into the SJHML draft as a Champion, after winning the championship in Schattenaxt’s draftable free agent period for the Quebec City Citadelles. After being picked 4th in that draft the right winger from Switzerland has shown to be a great player being the 13th best player in the talent pool, with one of the best bank accounts to back it up for future seasons.

Player: Andre Latreille
User: XxCL16xX
Position: Left Winger
TPE: 276
Bank: 23,300,000
IIHF: Canada
Class Rank: 15th
Draft: 8th OA

Andre Latreille, the 8th overall pick in the SJHML draft has shown great promise now being the 15th best player for the upcoming SHL draft. Latreille has a decent bank account to be able to get through the next season, which means that no team can really overlook this Canadian left winger.

Player: Andren Akerson
User: Jorec
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 251
Bank: 38.994,000
IIHF: Sweden
Class Rank: 26th
Draft: 25th OA

Andren Akerson is a right winger from Sweden. Akerson has after being picked as 25th overall in the SJHML draft grown out to be the 26th best player during this upcoming SHL draft. Akerson also has a bank account to be able to be a safe pick for at least the next 2 seasons.

The Great Falls Grizzlies got 3 players which all 3 could be great pick-ups for any SHL team. But their player are wing heavy with all 3 of these players being wingers, this is a team to check for any SHL team which needs some wingers for the upcoming seasons.

Next up the Detroit Falcons who after beating the Quebec City Citadelles, lost to the Newfoundland Berserkers with 4-1. Long story short, the Detroit Falcons have no players in the top 30 of the upcoming SHL draft.

Now onto the Colorado Raptors which after topping the group lost out 4-0 to the Yukon Malamutes. The Colorado Raptors do have 3 talents in the top 30 of the upcoming SHL draft, including the only goalie featured in this article.

Player: Oliver Castillon
User: _Blitz_
Position: Center
TPE: 289
Bank: 117,204,000
IIHF: France
Class Rank: 2nd
Draft: 2nd OA

Oliver Castillon was draft 2nd overall, and is also the 2nd best player for the S71 SHL draft. Castillon is a french center who has so far been a great podium sitter, coming 2nd with the Colorado Raptors in the regular season, being drafted 2nd, having the 2nd highest rank among the S71 draft class, and having the 3rd best bank balance which ensures Castillon has enough money for the seasons to come. I would guess Oliver Castillon to be drafted in the top 3 for the next draft.

Player: Scary Jerry
User: Durden
Position: Goalie
TPE: 266
Bank: 24,223,200
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 21st
Draft: 36th OA

Scary Jerry is the first and only goalie featured in this article. This goalie from the USA was drafted 36th overall, and has surpassed expectations being the 21st best player for the upcoming SHL draft. With a nice bank account to survive a season or two, Jerry will be the goalie to pick for teams which basically need a goalie.

Player: Foggy Nelson
User: dac
Position: Left Defense
TPE: 251
Bank: 800,000
IIHF: Unassigned
Class Rank: 27th
Draft: 19th OA

Foggy Nelson was picked 19th overall in the SJHML draft. This left defender has since proven to be a good player having the 27th highest TPE of the S71 SHL draft. Also nations pay attention, this left defender doesn’t have an IIHF nation yet.

Overall the Colorado Raptors have 2 good players, with 1 absolutely great player. These players also cover the goal, defense, and offensive side of ice hockey making sure they have someone for whichever need an SHL team has.

Onto the last team knocked out in round 2, with the Carolina Kraken. The Carolina Kraken won in the first round against the Vancouver Whaler but then lost 4-2 against the Maine Timbers. The Carolina Krakens have 3 players in this top 30 list.

Player: Alexej Kastrba
User: hewasajazzman
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 271
Bank: 18,390,000
IIHF: Czechia
Class Rank: 19th
Draft: 22nd OA

Alexej Kastrba has shown to be a good player. The Czechian right winger who was drafted 22nd overall in the SJHML draft has shown to be a bit undervalued, now being the 19th best player of the class going into the S71 SHL draft. With a bank account capable of supporting a season or two of SHL hockey training, the future for Alexej Kastrba seems promising.

Player: Aumy Junior II
User: st4rface
Position: Center
TPE: 262
Bank: 1,022,000
IIHF: Finland
Class Rank: 22nd
Draft: Waiver Wire

What a great waiver wire pick. Aumy Junior II came into the SJHML through the waiver wire instead of the draft, and has grown to be the 22nd best player in the S71 SHL draft class. Junior is a finnish center who has shown great promise despite a late start, but the biggest negative is a really small bank account that could use some work.

Player: Matt Stro
User: Mattstro
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 250
Bank: 1,300,000
IIHF: Great Britain
Class Rank: 30th
Draft: 28th OA

Matt Stro has proven to be able to get to the level of the top 30 players in this prospect pool. The 28th picked player in the SJHML draft is currently the 30th best player for the S71 SHL draft. Stro is a right winger from Great Britain, and currently has a bank account that is pretty low.

So that was the Carolina Krakens. The Krakens have some good players, but the team doesn’t have the big start quality in the S71 SHL draft that some of the other teams have. Despite that with having 3 top 30 players the Krakens have some good forward options.

Now onto the teams which got knocked out in the semi-finals. Obviously these are only 2 with the Yukon Malamutes and the Nevada Battleborn being knocked out in the semi-finals.

Let’s start with the Yukon Malamutes, who won in the first round with 4-3 against the Kelowna Knights, and then in the second round with 4-0 against the Colorado Raptors before being eliminated by the Maine Timbers with a score of 4-2. The Yukon Malamutes got 3 players in the top 30 for the upcoming SHL draft.

Player: Furious Chicken
User: FuriousChicken
Position: Left Defense
TPE: 292
Bank: 33,300,000
IIHF: Unassigned
Class Rank: 1st
Draft: 13th OA

Furious Chicken got drafted 13th overall in the SJHML draft. Furious Chicken proved the trust right, becoming the 1st ranked player in terms of TPE by the start of the play-offs. This left defender is still unassigned for the IIHF. In terms of bank account Furious Chicken got a decent amount that would be enough for 1 or maybe 2 seasons of SHL training.

Player: Theodore Svatos
User: HabsFanFromOntario
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 280
Bank: 133,045,000
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 8th
Draft: 16th OA

Theodore Svatos was drafted 16th overall during the SJHML draft by the Detroit Falcons, and later got traded to the Yukon Malamutes. Theodore Svatos has the 2nd highest bank account so will have a good bank account for the future seasons in the SHL. This right winger will be able to play for the USA, and is currently the 8th best player of the S71 SHL draft class. Furthermore for any teams wishing to pick Theodore Svatos, Svatos is already destined to go to the Edmonton Blizzards.

Player: Jordan Tanner
User: jtanner20
Position: Left Winger
TPE: 254
Bank: 1,400,000
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 25th
Draft: 29th OA

Jordan Tanner got picked as the 29th overall during the SJHML draft, and Jordan Tanner has shown that the ranking wasn’t too high becoming the 25th highest TPE player for the S71 talent pool. This left winger from the USA does have a small bank amount which might prove difficult once joining the SHL.

The Yukon Malamutes has 3 great players, 2 of them being in the top 10 with 1 even being the highest TPE earner of this class. But one bad thing for scouts is that Theodore Svatos is already going to the Edmonton Blizzards, and thus can’t be drafted anymore.

Now onto the Nevada Battleborn, they managed to beat the Great Falls Grizzlies with 4-1, before losing in the semi-finals against the Newfoundland Berserkers with 4-3. The Nevada Battleborn has 2 players in the top 30.

Player: Max Carnage
User: LeSizz
Position: Center
TPE: 282
Bank: 23,350,000
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 5th
Draft: 20th OA

Max Carnage is a center from the USA. Max Carnage got picked at 20th overall during the SJHML draft and has more than proven the pick position becoming the 5th best player in the S71 SHL draft talent pool. Max Carnage also has a bit of bank remaining, enough to survive at least a season of SHL training.

Player: Thomas Sawschuk
User: Nokazoa
Position: Center
TPE: 257
Bank: 73,092,300
IIHF: Canada
Class Rank: 23rd
Draft: 6th OA

Thomas Sawschuk is a center for Canada who got picked at 6th overall during the SJHML draft. Thomas Sawschuk might have not lived up to this 6th overall being the 23rd best player in the S71 SHL draft class, Sawschuk is despite this still a great player being in the top 30 of this pool, and having a good amount of money ready for the training, that some of the higher up players might struggle with, giving Thomas Sawschuk more than enough changes to get that 6th overall back.

So yeah the Nevada Battleborn have 1 player who has become a top 5 after being picked 20th overall, and 1 player coming 23rd after being picked 6th overall, so a part of 2 worlds. One benefit is that they have 1 great player, and 1 player with a good bank account ready for more growth.

Now onto the finalists, let’s start with the losing finalist in the Maine Timbers. The Timbers beat the Carolina Kraken (4-2), Yukon Malamutes (4-2) before losing 0-4 in the finals against the Newfoundland Berserkers. The Maine Timbers have 2 players in the top 30.

Player: Shootin Blanks
User: LordBallGag
Position: Center
TPE: 275
Bank: 11,370,000
IIHF: Unassigned
Class Rank: 16th
Draft: 27th OA

Shootin Blanks is a center who currently is not assigned to any IIHF nation. Shootin Blanks was drafted 27th overall in the SJHML draft, and has proven to be worth more than that now being the 16th best in the upcoming S71 SHL draft. When looking at the bank balance Shootin Blanks does have a bit of a buffer, but not a great amount.

Player: Mick Mayhem
User: Matty86
Position: Right Defense
TPE: 274
Bank: 2,450,000
IIHF: USA
Class Rank: 18th
Draft: 10th OA

Mick Mayhem is a right defender from the United States. Being drafted 10th overall in the junior draft Mayhem has proven to be a good player now being the 18th best player for the S71 draft. One thing that might worry SHL teams is the bank balance which is looking pretty low right now.

So all-in-all the Maine Timbers have 2 pretty good talents, but are missing the star player in this talent pool. Still scouts can’t go wrong scouting the Maine Timbers as they still have 2 players in the top 30, and both are even in the top 20.

So now onto the last team, the Newfoundland Berserkers. The Newfoundland Berserkers won the finals with 4-0 against the Maine Timbers after already beating the Nevada Battleborn (4-3, Semi-final), and the Detroit Falcons (4-1, second round) on the road to the finals. The Berserkers have 2 players in this top 30 list, and both of these have experienced a junior league-winning season, which only 1 other player has experienced of this draft pool.

Player: Adelbert Steiner
User: ElMerchanto
Position: Right Defense
TPE: 274
Bank: 15,470,000
IIHF: Great Britain
Class Rank: 17th
Draft: 12th OA

Adelbert Steiner is a right defender from Great Britain. Adelbert Steiner got drafted 12th overall, and has shown to be a good player, currently being the 17th best player coming into the S71 SHL draft. Steiner also got a decent bank account having a nice buffer for the upcoming season, makes Steiner a good player for any SHL team.

Player: Erik Erikson
User: Beta
Position: Right Winger
TPE: 270
Bank: 17,400,000
IIHF: Norway
Class Rank: 20th
Draft: 24th OA

Erik Erikson, son of Erik Smile

is a right winger from Norway. This Norwegian winger was drafted 24th overall in the SJHML draft, and is currently the 20th best player for the upcoming SHL draft, with also a decent bank amount that can provide a nice buffer for the next season this is a player to not overlook.

So the other finals team is another team with 2 good players (I mean you gotta be great to get into the top 30), but no star-players that might be looked at for top 5 picks. But you never know and if they get picked that high, it wouldn’t be a bad pick for sure.

A quick reminder before going through. These are only the top 30 players, and to reach the top 30 in this big of a class is a great feat, and all of these players are really good players. There are even good players outside of this top 30, a lot of which came in through the waiver wire (which we currently only have 1 from in this top 30). This is also only after 1 season, and I don’t know most of these players Smile

Now onto which team might be the hotspot for scouts at least when purely looking at these top 30 players (this is also an opinion), only looking at the 3 really special spots here:

Honorable Mention: The Yukon Malamutes. The Malamutes would have been in 3rd if Theodore Svatos wasn’t already predetermined to go to the Edmonton Blizzards, which would have gotten them 3 players, 2 being in the top 10.

3: 3rd is the St. Louis Scarecrows. One of 4 teams having 2 players, 1 being a top 10, and the other being a top 30 the Scarecrows have the best 2nd player with the 7th and 14th best player in the league, and on top of this these 2 players exists of a defender (right), and a forward (center).
2: Colorado Raptors - 3 players, of which 1 is a top 10 player, maybe doesn’t sound that impressive. But what needs to be remembered is that the Colorado Raptors have the only goalie in this top 30, and on top of this also have a defender, and a forward (center) makes it that this team has somebody for every team.
1: Vancouver Whalers - With 5 players in the top 30, 3 being inside of the top 10 there is no team that even came close. The closest thing you could say about the Whalers is that their players are 2 left defenders, and 3 right wingers. But despite this just the fact that 5 of the best players are from this team makes this the ultimate scout hotspot over the past season.

Now let’s also take a look at which IIHF nations are presented in this draft as of the “current” date (the week play-off started).
1: USA - The USA has 7 players sitting in this draft class, with 3 of them being top 10 players (5th is the best), and 2 more players positioned between 11th and 20th. This might be a great generation for the USA.

2: Unassigned - Yeah not really a nation but the unassigned players represent the 2nd best group for this class. Having 5 players, 2 being top 10 (both being top 5), and 2 more being in the top 20 every single nation (especially the smaller ones) will need to have a good look at these players.

3: Czechia - With 4 players Czechia is nicely represented in this draft class. Having 2 players in the top 10, and 1 more in the top 20 the Czechian group is doing great iin this class.

Other Nations with multiple players:
Great Britian - 3 players, 1 in the top 20.
Sweden - 2 players, 1 in the top 10
Canada - 2 players, 1 in the top 20
Finland - 2 players

Also represented in this draft class:
France - 1 player (top 5)
Germany - 1 player (top 5)
Japan - 1 player (top 20)
Switzerland - 1 player (top 20)
Norway - 1 player (top 20)

So that’s the end of the nation overview. The USA and Czechia will be especially happy with this draft class, as long as they manage to keep the players in their respective nations. Obviously none of these players have been called up as of getting this data, and thus they all might be “transfering” over to play for a different IIHF nation if they feel like they want more playing time and/or feeling more confident in another IIHF nation for their chances.

[4550 words]

***HabsFanFromOntario*** · 05-12-2023, 02:24 PM

GET THAT MONEY CHICKEN!

spidey · 05-12-2023, 03:28 PM

Love the article! Nice work Chicken.

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