Second up are the Arizona Coyotes.
1. Jan Jenik - Hamilton Bulldogs
Jenik was having a heck of a season before a knee injury at the World Junior Championships ended his season. He is just such a fun player to watch. He is relentless on and off the puck and it makes him consistently dangerous. By adding strength and improving his explosiveness this year, Jenik was able to be more consistently effective as a driver of play in transition. He doesn't mess around or take short cuts. Jenik is always pushing the pace and looking to attack the middle of the ice. There is a real variance in his attacks too, not always just taking the puck wide to beat defenders with speed. According to my research on InStat hockey, he's the leader in offensive zone entries per game for any NHL drafted prospect in the OHL (ahead of the Foudy brothers). He's also a strong two-way player who can be relied upon in any situation. At the pro level, I would expect his defensive abilities to improve even more. As a player who excels with the puck on his stick, Jenik can be prone to some offensive zone turnovers, but he never gives up on a play and is always working to get the puck back when he coughs it up. Some tweaks may be needed in the decision making department at the pro level, as he won't be able to stickhandle and skate around/through NHL/AHL defenders the way that he does in the OHL. The question is, just how much will that knee injury hurt his development? Jenik is a player who made some improvements to a previously average skating stride, it would be a shame for those improvements to stagnate or take a step backward. Continuing to strengthen his lower body will be key for his development. The skill level and effort are there though. Hopefully he's able to get back into action right away to start next season (which it sounds like he will be). I think he's a 50+ point player in the AHL.
2. Axel Bergkvist - Kitchener Rangers
An impressive first (and only) OHL season for Bergkvist, a 7th rounder by Arizona in 2019. It took him a little bit to find his stride, but by season's end, he had become one of the league's elite puck moving defenders. His skating ability is a real asset, in particular the smoothness of his stop/starts, and the explosiveness he possesses. This makes him so elusive when exiting the zone. Bergkvist also has good vision when working the point. Really like how he is able to find players back door so consistently after he draws in defenders by being aggressive stepping into the slot area. He draws the attention of the opposition but rarely turns the puck over in the offensive zone. Given his lack of size (5'9), I suppose the million dollar question is, can he defend effectively at even strength at the next level? He's a pretty strong/thick kid, and I think he challenges well at the OHL level. However, he's certainly not a physical player and his intensity level will need to increase. He's signed on to play in the Allsvenskan next year so it will be interesting to see how he plays against men there before a likely transition to the AHL the following year. This looks like a great seventh round selection by the Coyotes though, as Bergkvist at least looks like someone who can quarterback a powerplay and have his minutes sheltered on the third pairing (if his defensive game doesn't translate as well).
3. Liam Kirk - Peterborough Petes
While Kirk certainly didn't have a poor season, averaging over a point per game, I'm not sure he reached the expectations that I had for him. Injuries were a bit of an issue, missing time due to a concussion and as a result of a puck to the face. Kirk is still a skilled offensive player. He generates good velocity on his release and still projects as a goal scorer. He looked more confident with the puck this year and that poise allowed him to develop into a more well rounded offensive player; showing improvements as a playmaker and passer. However, he's still slight and is a relatively one dimensional player. He will engage, but he's not winning the majority of his battles near the wall or in front of the net. This really prevents him from being a more consistent player. Ultimately, I suspect that this is why the Coyotes have yet to sign Kirk as they wonder if his skill set is dynamic enough to be a top six player at the NHL level. Where Kirk plays next year remains to be seen. He could be back in Peterborough as an overager. He could play in the AHL on a PTO. He could head back overseas. Arizona has until 2022 to sign him, so they make ultimately take their time. Kirk was drafted as a project and he still remains one.
4. Ryan McGregor - Sarnia Sting
After the Maple Leafs chose to relinquish McGregor's rights, the former 6th rounder returned to Sarnia for his overage season. As part of a rebuilding Sting team, McGregor did his best to keep the team afloat in a leadership role. As such, he earned an ELC from Arizona. McGregor projects best as a bottom six center because of how well rounded his game is. He's certainly not a physical player, but his skating ability and defensive IQ make him a candidate to fill a 3rd or 4th line center role. He has a really good/active stick in the defensive zone, consistently forcing turnovers by applying pressure to puck carriers and by anticipating/jumping passing lanes. As an offensive player, McGregor works best as a pass first playmaker. He creates space with his pushes and has the vision to facilitate even while at full speed. Not an extremely creative player, McGregor operates best in a straight line. Ultimately, the question is, just how well can McGregor's game translate to the pro level? There's certainly going to be some concern that he is a classic "tweener" because of a well rounded skill set, but one that lacks a dynamic quality. As mentioned, McGregor probably profiles best as a future checking line center, but he'll need time in the AHL/ECHL to really build up the strength necessary to excel in that role. I would expect that we see him in the ECHL next year with a target of making the AHL full time the following year.
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