• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Thursday produced five players for this daily list of top performances by
2018 prospects. The upcoming weekend will surely yield many more.
The NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings are due out early next week -- a few days later than the date they were revealed on last year. Given the depth of this talent pool, this list will deserve careful scrutiny. Will defensemen outnumber forwards in the top 10 rankings for both North America and Europe? How high will the most talented undersized players be ranked? Many questions will be answered next week, but many more will remain until June.
Only two of the top five performances from Thursday came from the major-junior ranks. Also on the list are two Canadian Tier II players and a high school star from Minnesota. Check out all five:
EVAN BOUCHARD -- The high-scoring London defenseman picked up two assists in a 5-2 win at Windsor on Thursday, earning No. 1 star honors. Bouchard had the primary assist on a goal at 10:54 of the first period to make it 2-0 and later assisted on a goal at 16:47 of the third for a 4-2 lead. With 52 points in 44 games, Bouchard leads all OHL defensemen in scoring. Thursday marked his fourth No. 1 star election this season. (Note: 11th appearance on this list in 2017-18 -- leads all defensemen)
JACK McBAIN -- What a night for McBain, who had two goals and two assists in the Toronto Jr. Canadiens' 6-2 win at St. Michael's. The game's No. 1 star got rolling with the primary assist on a goal at 13:13 of the second period to make it 2-0. He had another primary helper at 16:44 of the secon, stretching it to 3-0. In the third period, McBain scored on a power play at 5:43 to make it 5-0 before hitting an empty net at 18:09. Through 40 OJHL games, McBain has 18 goals and 47 points to rank 15th in the league's scoring race. Thursday was his first multi-point game since Nov. 24. His father, Andrew, was a first-round pick back in 1983, and it appears that Jack will be a first-rounder as well. (Note: Ninth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JACK PERBIX -- Last year, Perbix's older brother, Nick, was drafted in the sixth round. It's safe to say that Jack will be going much higher in 2018. The Notre Dame recruit had a goal and an assist in Elk River's 2-1 win over Maple Grove on Thursday, as Perbix continued to prove he's one of Minnesota's very best high school players. His assist, at 6:56 of the second period, helped pull the Elks into a 1-1 tie. His goal, at 15:58 of the second, was the game-winner. Now riding a seven-game points streak, Perbix has 13 goals and 40 points in 17 games to rank 10th in the league's scoring race. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV -- The projected No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft was the No. 3 star of Barrie's 6-2 win over Saginaw on Thursday. Svechnikov has the primary assist on a goal at 14:40 of the first period for a 2-0 lead and scored the game-winner to make it 3-0 just under four minutes later at 17:08. With 17 goals in 22 games, Svechnikov is tied for the OHL's rookie goal-scoring lead despite missing numerous games with an injury and World Junior Championship stint. He has three goals and four assists in six games since his return from the World Juniors. (Note: 11th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JONNY TYCHONICK -- Tychonick, a defenseman headed for the University of North Dakota, was masterful Thursday in Penticton's 4-1 BCHL win at Prince George. With a goal and three assists, he the clear No. 1 star -- as he had a hand in all four of the Vees' goals. He began with an assist at 3:29 of the second period on the first of four unanswered Penticton goals. He had another assist on the eventual game-winner at 19:47 of the second. In the third period, Tychonick registered the primary helper on a goal at 4:14 and scored on a power play at 13:25. This was his third four-point game of the season, and his first in two months. Through 33 games, he has six goals and 31 points. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)