I had the opportunity to attend the U18 World Championships in Frisco and Allen, Texas this week, seeing 22 players from Dobber Prospects’ most recent ranking. The annual spring U18s are among the most important events on the draft calendar, signaling a last opportunity for prospects to make an impression on the 200-plus scouts in attendance. It’s important not to put too much weight on one game or international event, but there’s certainly a lot at stake in terms of draft position. Here are my takeaways on each players ranked in our last meeting:
Anton Frondell, Team Sweden (6th Overall)
Frondell was held off the scoresheet, and generally quiet in his debut game. It’s fair to attribute most of that to the international flight and the fatigue following an Allsvenskan championship. In his second game against Czechia, he said he felt more centered, and it showed. I would have liked to see more, but Frondell was solid nonetheless. NHL teams really like the Swedish centre.
Jackson Smith, Team Canada (9)
Smith is a player who has seen both highs and lows. Tasked with taking on a more defensive role to balance out a corps of predominantly younger, offensively minded defensemen, he has embraced the challenge. Unfortunately, I still see some of the same concerns I saw in WHL Tri City. Smith has struggled picking up assignments on the cycle, and making quick decisions with the puck. The top of this draft is tricky for D-Men.
Cullen Potter, Team USA (10)
Potter has been dynamite offensively, exploiting open ice through the neutral zone and leveraging his skating, likely the best in the class. He has been explosive in open space, but has also shown growth playing under pressure, showcasing escapability along the wall and off the cycle. His hockey sense raised some red flags at the NCAA level this season, but he has looked much better here. Potter’s flashes catapulted him into our top 10, and amidst some minor concerns, I expect him to stay up here.
Radim Mrtka, Czechia (14)
Mrtka has not had the most favourable U18s so far. In some shifts, he is outright dominant, using long, powerful strides to close ice and a brilliant first pass to kickstart Czechia’s offense. At other times, he’s caught wildly out of position, giving up pucks in clunky ways, and failing to impose his 6-6 frame physically. There’s no question to me that he will have defensive lapses at the NHL level. He is going to need to evolve into a more consistent, aware
player in all three zones.
Ben Kindel, Canada (15)
Kindel has been his typical, smart, efficient self, creating for others and finishing his own chances. He buried a beautiful knee drop one timer in his first period of action, and kept the momentum rolling ever since. There will be some concerns in the variety and intensity of his game, but the brilliance and skating combination is really intriguing. Kindel likely made the right choice joining the U18s as a late arrival.
Braeden Cootes, Canada (16)
Cootes was awarded the “C” and has not looked back. He is a smart, offensively minded centre with great vision and pace. He drives play in the right direction at high speed, and can both facilitate and rip the puck. I have yet to notice him cheat the game or cheat for offense, even in high scoring blowouts. NHL teams value leadership, and Cootes has it –and a handful of other enviable traits–in droves. From what I’ve heard here in Texas, his stock is only going up.
Brady Martin, Canada (17)
There is a big difference between players who finish checks, and those who hit to leave a mark. Martin is a rare example of the latter. He plays a ruthless game that shows no remorse for opposing puck carriers. My biggest takeaway with Martin, however, has been his pace. On video this winter, it looked problematic and far too slow. I’m not sure if he has hit another gear or if the rest after playoff elimination helped, but Martin has been one of Canada’s biggest pace pushers this week. His skill is a bit underrated, and I expect him to go quite high in June.
Blake Fiddler, Team USA (24)
Fiddler has been another mixed bag of sorts so far. The Texas native has shown his raw tools like his powerful skating, decent hands, and heavy shot. However, Fiddler has a tendency to play almost recklessly at times, running all over the ice and engaging in situations that leave his check vacant. Fiddler’s game is one of chaos. He has got some work to do as the U18s wear on.
Cameron Schmidt, Canada (25)
Schmidt scored one of the tournament’s prettiest goals, but beyond that, has had a hard time getting much going. He has 1-on-1 skill that’s evident to even the most casual fan, but the ability to play a connection game is not exactly there. He is aggressive, and has instincts that might warrant a first round pick in a weak class, but the size and individualism raise concerns for me personally. I think this tournament might have raised more questions than answers for Schmidt.
Milton Gastrin, Sweden (27)
Gastrin came out firing in Game one, one of Sweden’s best forwards in all three zones. His play has faded in some ways, with his offensive smarts coming and going. He skates well, can handle pressure, and accelerates out of situations, but the work rate and processing have been hit or miss. I hope to see him elevate his consistency a bit more.
Ben Kevan, Team USA (28)
Kevan has hardly played in the games I’ve attended, so it’s been difficult to get a read. With that being said, in his occasional ice time, he’s been solid. Fast, physical, a bit out of control at times, but it appears there is a role for him to carve out in the National Hockey League. He strikes a bit of a comparison to Logan O’Connor of Colorado for me.
Eric Nilson, Team Sweden (29)
Nilson has been very impressive for me on Team Sweden. Playing alongside some really high end complementary players, he’s found a niche that can both support and facilitate his play style. He is quick, smart, and evasive, sticking a bit to the perimeter at times, but also showing a killer instinct. His release has surprised me, and I anticipate he will stay in our first round. Nilson headlines the shortlist of players who have brought their “A” game every night.
Cole McKinney, Team USA (31)
McKinney has had a really solid tournament in Texas. He skates well and comes back through the middle of ice, turning over opposing pucks, and starting offence back in the right direction. He is a bit on the smaller side of a centre, but his pace and defensive instincts might be enough to get him in the league.
Cole Reschny, Team Canada (32)
Reschny played two games in the preliminary round, one of which I was able to attend. He skated well, drove play, and got on the board in multiple ways. Reschny is going to have the pace and size concerns follow him all spring, but I think his WHL playoff, plus his U18 performance, will solidify himself as a 1st round pick.
Jack Nesbitt, Team Canada (33)
Nesbitt arrived late following Windsor’s elimination, but stepped right into a role in Canada’s lineup and has done well. He had a beautiful goal called off, and a handful of additional bright moments. Nesbitt has been both on the wing and in the middle, a trait of versatility that is enticing to teams. There is no doubt he is a project pick (and mechanically limited) but the smarts and size combination may be worth a long term investment.
Jack Murtagh, Team USA (35)
Murtagh has been able to physically assert himself as a powerful complementary player in USA’s lineup. He facilitates for others, and can create turnovers by playing the right way on the forecheck. I still would be hesitant to use a first round pick on him, but there is a good chance you are getting an NHLer here.
Eddie Genborg, Team Sweden (36)
Genborg is a straight line, physical monster who has shown a great ability to complement two offensively minded players. He finishes hits, gets the puck to more skilled players, and goes to the net. It’s a simple game, one some NHL teams might not be overly enticed by, but I strongly believe he will eventually play in the NHL.
Sascha Boumedienne, Team Sweden (37)
Boumedienne has been one of the true revelations here in Frisco. He came out of the NCAA with a vengeance, and is playing with the swagger and confidence he has not had yet this season. His point shot is efficient, and he moves pucks with no hesitation. Boumedienne faded a bit in the USA game, but still found ways to be involved.
Arvid Drott, Team Sweden (41)
Drott, similarly to Ben Kevan, has fallen victim to the numbers game for his team. He has not seen much action, and might fall because of it. Would be a great speedy addition to an NHL team’s draft haul if he begins to slide.
HM Tomas Poletin, Team Czechia
Poletin has been one of my personal favourites to check out live. He is a good skater, and gets around pretty effortlessly. Most importantly, he’s tenacious, aggressive, and disruptive. The 6-3 Czech forward might endear himself to some NHL teams as the spring rolls on.
HM Filip Ekberg, Team Sweden
Ekberg has been one of the best overall players in the tournament so far. He is scoring goals at a high clip, and playing really well alongside Nilson and Stockselius. The “pro-translatability” concerns remain, but he is playing his best hockey at the right time of the year. NHL teams will take note of his timely rise to the occasion.
HM Jakob Ihs Wozniak, Team Sweden
The big Swedish winger has had an up and down season, but to close the year at u18s, his game has grown a bit on me. Wozniak has played a complimentary role for Sweden, and done well creating chances for teammates and himself. The intensity level still unfortunately is not as high as NHL teams would like.
The semi-finals of the U18 WJC kick off on Friday, May 2nd, so make sure to follow Whittaker on X.com (@whittakerheart) for more prospect updates.