• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
A number of top draft prospects were missing from their major-junior teams on Wednesday, as they in Guelph, Ontario, preparing for Thursday's CHL Top Prospects Game. So European leagues came through in a big way to make sure there were at least five top performances to chronicle here.
The CHL Top Prospects Game should be very interesting. A number of the prospects selected last month have seen their draft stock fall during the season, and this will be their chance to prove they belong with the big boys. Much of the focus will be on Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina, who will go head-to-head for the first time in CHL play.
Wednesday's diverse top five features four European and one American player from the NAHL. Take a look:
LUKAS DOSTAL -- After some outstanding starts in the Czech U20 league, Dostal came back up to Trebic in the WSM Liga and stopped 38 shots in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Karlovy Vary. Making his first WSM start in two weeks, he only allowed one goal on 39 shots -- the final goal was an empty-netter. Dostal stopped all 13 shots in the first period, 12 of 13 in the second, and all 14 in the third. His WSM play over the past five games has been spectacular, as he has stopped 160 of 166 shots for an incredible .964 save percentage since Jan. 1. (Note: 14th appearance on this list in 2017-18 -- leads all goaltenders; tied for overall lead)
KYLER GRUNDY -- The lone North American on the top-performances list for Wednesday, Grundy scored a goal and added an assist for No. 1 star honors in the Minnesota Magicians' 4-3 win over the Coulee Region Chill. His assist was the lone helper on a goal at 19:05 of the second period, pulling the Magicians into a 2-2 tie. His goal, scored shorthanded at 7:24 of the third, was the game-winner for a 4-2 lead. Grundy has nine goals and 22 points in 37 NAHL games this season, including goals in two of the past three games and points in three of the past four. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
FILIP HASA -- Any draft-eligible defenseman playing in the Gothenburg organization is playing in the shadow of Rasmus Dahlin. Hasa had his moment in the spotlight on Wednesday, as he scored two goals and was plus-4 in Frolunda's 5-0 shutout of Malmo. Hasa tallied at 4:51 of the second period for a 3-0 lead and again at 12:55 of the third to close the scoring. It was his second two-goal game of the Swedish U20 season and his first since Oct. 28. At 5-foot-9, Hasa's chance to be drafted might be limited by size. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
GABRIEL SEGER -- Seger continued his midseason surge in the Swedish U20 league, scoring two goals and winning eight of 12 face-offs on Wednesday in Vaxjo's 3-2 win over Stockholm Djurgarden. His first goal opened the scoring just 4:58 into the game. His second goal was the eventual game-winner at 5:51 of the second period, giving Vaxjo a 3-0 lead. Seger has goals in four of his last five games, as he is making a real push for the draft in June. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
CARL WASSENIUS -- Wassenius, a Swedish center with great size, erupted for three goals, and assist, and seven shots in Orebro's 7-2 U20 rout at Mora. He wasted no time getting his team on the board -- scoring on a 5-on-3 power play at 1:59 of the first period. He followed that at 4:19 with the primary assist on another power-play goal to make it 2-0. In the third period, he scored on a penalty shot at 10:08 and added an unassisted goal at 13:19 to put Orebro up 6-1. Wassenius has really been on a tear of late, as he has an eight game points streak with seven goals and seven assists over the span. It's hard to see him going undrafted. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)