TSN Analyst Bob McKenzie lends his insight to help you find some potential fantasy hockey free agent prospects in his TSN column where he features Ohio State defenceman Josh Healey and Czech defenceman Jakub Jerabek.

McKenzie calls Healey a “throwback blueliner”  as he is known as a big 6-0, 196 pound 22-year-old senior who throws big open ice hits and forces the other team to keep their head up at all times. He may not have much offensive upside and so offers the most value in leagues with peripheral stats namely hiys, blocks and PIM’s. His probability of signing a NHL contract seems high as McKenzie points out teams are showing lots of interest and scouts said his game will play better in the pro levels as he hits too hard for college hockey.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BLUELINE WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie">@TSNBobMcKenzie</a> on how Ohio State's Josh Healey and KHL D Jakub Jerabek are getting lots of interest <a href="https://t.co/CXgf9B7myu">https://t.co/CXgf9B7myu</a> <a href="https://t.co/2TJ1hjUCiv">pic.twitter.com/2TJ1hjUCiv</a></p>&mdash; TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNHockey/status/831231487789953024">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>

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The other prospect the Bob Father writes about is Jakub Jerabek who is a more offensive defenceman and therefore a more interesting fantasy hockey option. Playing in the KHL the 25-year-old has five goals and 32 points in 56 games. Jerabek can sign a one year NHL entry level contract once his KHL season is over. He could be this years Nikita Zaitsev.

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OHL Prospects released their mid-season poll of 17 scouts/media for the top ten OHL prospects for the 2017 NHL Draft.

Read it here

The post is similar to our own Fantasy Ranking the 2017 NHL Draft and features top scouts such as Ryan Kennedy (The Hockey News), Scott Wheeler (Future Considerations), Steve Kournianos (Draft Analyst), Anthony Mauro (Draft Buzz Hockey), Mark Seidel (NACS Hockey) and myself who contribute to both posts.

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The Ottawa Senators released their own prospects self assessment update today. Read the report here

{source} <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sens?src=hash">#Sens</a> have published the latest version of the team's 2016-17 Prospect Update. Check it out here: <a href="https://t.co/tSoKbWIFCn">https://t.co/tSoKbWIFCn</a></p>&mdash; Sens communications (@Media_Sens) <a href="https://twitter.com/Media_Sens/status/831236883334168576">February 13, 2017</a></blockquote>

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Highlights from report that stood out to me include Filip Chlapik who is 5^th in QMJHL overall for both assists and points. Potential goalie of the future Marcus Hogberg is posting some impressive numbers in the SHL starting in 26 of 41 games and posting a 1.95 GAA and a .932Sv%

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The Five Nations U18 Tournament concluded last week with Team USA coming out on top with the four leading scorers. 2017 NHL Draft eligible Josh Norris lead the tournament with seven points in four games. Grant Mismash (’17), Quinn Hughes (’18), and Evan Barratt (’17) round out the top four.

{source} <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's the game-winning shootout goal courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnorris10">@joshnorris10</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Champions?src=hash">#Champions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/5NationsU18?src=hash">#5NationsU18</a> <a href="https://t.co/kBEXSHBm84">pic.twitter.com/kBEXSHBm84</a></p>&mdash; USA Hockey NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAHockeyNTDP/status/830775168003895297">February 12, 2017</a></blockquote>

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The tournament included several prospects from Europe eligible for the 2017 NHL draft that impressed scouts including Timothy Liljegren, Eric Brannstrom of Sweden, Joni Ikonen from Finland. Perhaps the most impressive performance was from 2018 NHL Draft eligible Filip Zadina from Czech Republic who finished fifth in scoring with four goals and five points in four games. Tournament Stats can be found here

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Harvard wins the Beanpot tournament for the first time since 1993 after defeating the Boston Terriers. Harvard dominated the first and third periods with strong play from Bruins first round pick Ryan Donato, Harvard Captain and senior Alex Kerfoot of the New Jersey Devils and 2016 Calgary Flames pick defenceman Adam Fox. 21-year-old free agent Nathan Krusko scored two goals and was named tournament MVP.

{source} <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 2017 Beanpot Champions! <a href="https://t.co/AW4ZA4rrNL">pic.twitter.com/AW4ZA4rrNL</a></p>&mdash; Harvard Men's Hockey (@Harvard_Hockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/Harvard_Hockey/status/831341522469715969">February 14, 2017</a></blockquote>

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The Harvard win comes perhaps as a slight upset as BU had a stacked roster including six players from the USA World Junior Gold Medal champions. Bruins prospect Charlie McAvoy and Arizona prospect Clayton Keller led the Terriers but penalties cost them. 2017 top goalie prospect Jake Ottinger made 40 saves in the losing cause and was named tournament’s top goalie.