• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
A typically busy weekend ended Sunday, having felt the absence of the many 2018 draft prospects away at selection camps for the upcoming World Junior A Challenge in Nova Scotia. Although there were many strong performances, there would have been far more if all players had been in action. The good news is that the past weekend provided an opportunity for lesser-known prospects to step up, and several newcomers were on this list over the past few days.
This week should be interesting, as it might feature the return of Andrei Svechnikov from his injury. Despite missing several weeks, he is still favored to be the No. 2 overall pick. It probably won't take him too long to be back on this list. Until then, here's a look at the top 10 from Sunday:
CALEN ADDISON -- There's a new top-scoring draft-eligible defenseman in the WHL, and his name is Calen Addison. The Lethbridge blueliner was sensational with five assists in the Hurricanes' 7-2 win at Edmonton on Sunday, earning No. 2 star honors. All five assists were on the power play, where he is proving himself to be a great quarterback. The first assist, at 19:35 of the opening period, helped cut the lead to 2-1. In the second period, he assisted on four goals -- at 5:13 to tie it at 2-2, at 11:08 for a 4-2 lead, at 16:54 to go up 5-2, and at 19:30 to make it 6-2. His last two assists were both primary helpers. Addison has points in six of his last seven games and ranks fourth overall in points (32) and assists (26) among WHL defensemen. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JONATAN BERGGREN -- The slick center from Sweden set up three goals --one per period -- in Skelleftea U20's 5-4 win over Timra on Sunday. Berggren started with the primary assist on a goal at 17:22 of the first period, helping tying the game 1-1. In the second, he assisted on a goal at 11:08 to make it 3-1. In the third, he had the lone assist on the game-winning power-play tally with three seconds left in regulation. Berggren has registered multiple points in four his last five games -- a total of 10 over the span. His 29 points lead Skelleftea U20 in scoring and are tied for the U20-Norra division lead. This is one player who has really boosted his draft stock. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
NOAH DOBSON -- Dobson will be one of the first Canadian defensemen drafted in June, as he has done nothing but strengthen his Central Scouting Grade A ranking this season. On Sunday, Dobson helped Bathurst beat Moncton 6-3 by assisting on one goal and scoring another. The assist, at 9:51 of the first period, came on the game's first goal. His goal, scored on a power play at 11:13 of the second, put Bathurst ahead 3-2. Dobson now has three goals and 28 points in 30 QMJHL games. That includes points in six of his last seven outings. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
SAMUEL FAGEMO -- A talented Swedish forward, Fagemo was expected to spend much of the season in the SHL. But he wasn't quite ready for prime time. Instead, the Gothenburg Frolunda forward has been playing at the U20 level. He had his best offensive game on Sunday, scoring twice on the power play and adding an even-strength assist in a 7-1 rout of Karlskrona. His first goal, at 8:16 of the opening period, made it 1-0. At 2:11 of the second, he set up another goal for a 3-1 lead, and at 3:57 of the second, he made it 4-1. This was Fagemo's first two-goal game of the season. He now has eight goals and 13 points in 19 games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
BARRETT HAYTON -- Hayton was the No. 2 star of Sault Ste. Marie's 4-0 win at Ottawa on Sunday after scoring a goal, assisting on another, and racking up five shots. His goal, scored on a power play at 11:04 of the second period, made it 2-0. Ninety seconds later, he assisted on the goal that made it 3-0. Meanwhile, the Greyhounds extended their franchise-record winning streak to a remarkable 14 games. Hayton, a projected first-round pick by Central Scouting, is on a four-game OHL point streak and has back-to-back two-point games as well as points in seven of his last eight. The 6-foot-1 center has 11 goals and 14 assists in 27 games. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ADAM LISKA -- The Slovak left winger has made a strong adjustment to the OHL and is starting to have an impact on the scoresheet. On Sunday, Liska was the No. 1 star of Kitchener's 3-2 OT win at Erie. He had a goal and assist in the game. His assist helped cut the early Erie lead to 2-1 at 12:15 of the first period. He later scored the goal that forced overtime at 8:40 of the third period. The two-point day snapped a five-game scoring drought. Liska, who has six goals and 13 points in 29 OHL games, has been a three-star selection three times this season and a No. 1 star twice. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
BRYAN LOCKNER -- What a Sunday for Lockner! The Colorado-raised winger had the best game of his WHL career in Regina's 4-1 win at Calgary, finishing with a goal, two assists, and a plus-4 rating to earn No. 1 star honors. Although he only had five points heading into Sunday, He wasted no time getting on the scoresheet -- assisting on the opening goal at 3:11 of the first period. At 3:14 of the second, he scored the game-winner for a 2-1 lead, and closed his point parade five minutes later at 8:22 by setting up the goal that made it 3-1. Lockner snapped a seven-game scoring drought while getting his first goal since No. 12. This was the first WHL three-point game and only the second time he posted multiple points.
EVAN MacKINNON -- MacKinnon, a left wing from Nova Scotia, is not exactly a big scorer. Prior to Sunday, he had only two goals and five points in 23 QMJHL games. On Sunday, however, he showed his offensive spark with two goals in Sherbrooke's 4-2 win at Chicoutimi. MacKinnon scored at 15:11 of the second period to cut the Sags' lead to 2-1 and later closed the scoring with a goal at 15:19 of the third. It was the first two-goal game of his WHL career and the first time he found the net since Oct. 10.
RYAN McLEOD -- McLeod continued to stake his claim for a high first-round slot with three assists in Mississauga's 5-3 loss at Hamilton. All three were primary helpers. The first came on a goal by his brother Michael at 5:50 of the second, cutting the lead to 2-1. He later had the primary assist on a goal at 12:18 of the third to make it 4-2 and set up a power-play goal at 18:23 of the third to pull his team within a goal at 4-3. McLeod has 23 assists and 30 points in 28 OHL games this season. He is tied for second in scoring on the Steelheads and leads the team in assists. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
EGOR SOKOLOV -- Russian import Sokolov is thriving in the QMJHL with Cape Breton. On Sunday, he was the No. 1 star with a goal, an assist, and seven shots in the Screaming Eagles' 4-2 win over Val d'Or. His unassisted goal at 15:22 of the second period gave Cape Breton a 2-1 lead. Three minutes later, he had the primary assist on the eventual game-winner at 18:23 of the second. This was Sokolov's second straight multi=point game and continued his four-game scoring streak. With 12 goals and 25 points in 28 games, he ranks No. 5 in QMJHL rookie scoring. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)