Scout's Analysis: Favourite draft prospects outside of the first round

This year’s crop of NHL prospects is unique in that there’s a wide range of players who project to have close to the same NHL upside. It’s my opinion the top 18-20 players have separated themselves from the pack. But the next tier of prospects are so similar that a player selected 25^th overall could end up providing as much value as a player chosen in the 40s.

Here’s a look at some prospects who will likely have their names called after the first-round, but have potential to provide organizational depth to the franchise selecting them in Vegas:

Brodie Ziemer, F, USNTDP
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 196 pounds
Season Stats: 61GP-27G-43A (+40)

I appreciate the way Ziemer plays the game. He’s a consistent competitor who plays with pace and provides his share of offence. Ziemer’s floor is that of a fourth line checker. His ceiling could end up seeing him land in a middle-six role, where he'd match up against top six opponents on the road. He could even potentially find a role on a second power play unit, and provide secondary offence.

Lucas Pettersson, F, MODO J20 (Sweden)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 173 pounds
Season Stats: 44GP-27G-30A (+27)

Pettersson and Ziemer have some similarities in terms of how they were deployed this past season with their club teams. Ziemer is heavier in the trenches than Pettersson, but Pettersson is a crafty player who’s quick to space in the defensive zone, takes key faceoffs, and has the skill to provide results on the power play. Pettersson does a lot of things well. There are nights he looks like he projects to be a top six NHL forward, but overall I’m more comfortable defining him as a middle-six who will be possibly be deployed in all situations.

Leon Muggli, D, Zug (Switzerland)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 176 pounds
Season Stats: 42GP-3G-9A (+13)

Muggli has some understated offensive upside. He shows flashes of producing more results when playing in the Swiss National League with Zug. He gained valuable experience in several high leverage games this season and handled the pressure well. Muggli is best described as a two-way defenceman who skates very well and manages the game responsibly in all three zones. He’s not overpowering physically, but he also doesn’t shy away from battling to win pucks. Muggli could be a sleeper pick to keep an eye on as he matures.

Eriks Mateiko, F, Saint John (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 216 pounds
Season Stats: 49GP-23G-20A (+0) 

Mateiko is a massive forward who plays with mid-range power. He isn’t punishing physically, but his size and length make him hard to defend when he has the puck on his stick and he’s shielding it from checkers. Mateiko skates well for his size. He’s a late birthday (Nov. 18, 2005) who’s a bit older than most players in the draft class. Mateiko leans shooter more than playmaker, but he does use his reach to extend plays along the wall in the offensive zone. His draft ranking ranges from the early stages of the third round all the way to the fifth. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him come off the board in the third round, potentially to a team that owns multiple mid-round selections.

Lucas Van Vliet, F, USNTDP
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 178 pounds
Season Stats: 51GP-13G-9A (+7)

I recognize Van Vliet’s statistics don’t jump off the page offensively, but I truly believe there is some depth scoring in his veins. Van Vliet, in my opinion, is a player who could have been cast higher up the lineup at the USNTDP. It happens every year at the program. He plays with pace and displays better than average skill overall. Van Vliet is heading to an upstart college program at Michigan State. I’m keen to monitor his impact in East Lansing. He could end up pulling on an NHL jersey and being deployed in a bottom six role. His hockey sense provides confidence that he can, at least, become a checking forward who can kill penalties.

Veeti Vaisanen, D, Kookoo (Liiga)
Height: 6-foot Weight: 188 pounds
Season Stats: 50GP-2G-8A (+1)

Vaisanen started the season at 177 pounds and ended it at 188. He’s a stocky/strong defender who handled his defensive responsibilities well at the pro level in Finland. He’s a two-way defenceman with timely instincts. He can escape pressure and make creative plays offensively. His ranking ranges from the third round to the fifth or even sixth round, depending on the publication. I can see Vaisanen being selected in the third.

Alexander Zetterberg, F, Orebro J20 (Sweden)
Height: 5-foot-7 Weight: 158 pounds
Season Stats: 44GP-20G-36A (+25)

Years ago, when I started my NHL career scouting for the Nashville Predators, Steve Sullivan was one of our most productive offensive threats despite his stature (5-foot-8 154 pounds). Zetterberg isn’t quite as darting as Sullivan was, but he’s plenty dangerous offensively -- especially on the power play when ripping pucks from the weak side flank. He’s fun to watch. Size will be the obvious discussion, but there’s room for this kind of prospect with the way the game is being played today. The NHL isn’t as physical as it used to be.

Nils Roberts Maurins, G, Sodertalje (Sweden U18/U20)
Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 176 pounds
Season Stats: 2.84GAA .893SV%

Roberts Maurins is a goalie I would target late in the draft. He has an attractive foundation to work with. He’s tall, athletic, and competitive. It’s going to take patience, but drafting a goalie from Europe allows the NHL club four years of development time before having to make a decision to sign the prospect. Roberts Maurins is worth the risk.

Miguel Marques, F, Lethbridge (WHL)
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 187 pounds
Season Stats: 67GP-28G-46A (+13)    

It’s fascinating to see Marques ranked as early as the first-round and as late as the early fourth-round ahead of the draft. I appreciate his offensive skill set. He’s a crafty thinker with the puck on his stick. He’s not a burner in open ice and his fitness has room for significant improvement. Better fitness is a choice, and I believe an NHL team’s development staff can coach Marques up and get him ready for the pro game. His skating should improve as a result. If Marques falls to the third round his skill is too much to ignore.

Tomas Lavoie, D, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 225 pounds
Season Stats: 65GP-3G-21A (+4)

My last prospect on this list is massive right-shot defender. Lavoie is a coveted right-shot with size and length. My concern is his willingness to consistently compete in the trenches and make life miserable on opponents. His best shift looks like he’s capable of a top four NHL role, but when he’s not entirely focused or engaged he looks like a recall prospect. Lavoie can also shoot the puck with authority when time and space allows. There’s lots to like about his potential, but there’s also some risk to calling his name. I’d take a run at Lavoie in the fourth round if he was still on the board.