NHL Prospect Roundup: Seattle Kraken’s Shane Wright is crushing the OHL
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It’s an exciting time to be a prospect fan right now.
Earlier this month, we had the CHL trade deadline that saw many of the top junior-aged players moved. Last week, we had the Biosteel All-American Game for American 2023 NHL Draft stars. And this week, we have the CHL Top Prospects Game, pitting the best major junior players together in Canada’s top showcase event.
We’re not far from the regular season home stretch, with teams starting to show everything they’ve got. And for NHL-drafted prospects, it’s an opportunity to show you can handle the pressure.
Here’s a look at 10 NHL prospects who have stood out recently, including a couple playing with new uniforms:
OHL
– You’d expect big things from a player with NHL and AHL experience heading back to the OHL, and that’s precisely what Shane Wright is doing. The Seattle Kraken prospect’s struggles were highly publicized in the first half of the season. He was unable to find a full-time role with the big club before eventually getting loaned out to Canada’s World Junior Championship team. That helped spark some confidence, but he was ultimately returned to the OHL, where the Kingston Frontenacs traded him to Windsor. In his first six games for the playoff frontrunner, Wright has five goals and 11 points, putting him on pace for around 60 points in just 32 contests. There are high hopes for Wright to become a star in the NHL, and while his start was a bit wonky, getting consistent playing time on a competitive team is excellent for a young player’s morale.
– Speaking of Canadian WJC stars, so far so good for Ethan Del Mastro with the Sarnia Sting. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect was moved by Mississauga at the deadline, and after a quiet first three games, he notched a pair of two-assist efforts against Erie and Kitchener over the weekend. He’s up to five points in five games, which is helping to push him closer to a point-per-game pace this season. The 6-foot-4 defenseman moves, shoots and passes well for a player who is known more for being an intimidating presence, and his game has taken nice strides toward becoming more well-rounded this year as a whole.
WHL
– OK, one last Canadian WJC star. Olen Zellweger, the WHL’s reigning top defenseman and now two-time world junior champion, was moved to Kamloops at the deadline and a mega trade and has played an incredibly prominent role. The Anaheim Ducks prospect has four goals and nine points in five games, highlighted by a five-point, 10-shot effort on Saturday against Tri-City. He has registered at least five shots in all but one of his games so far, becoming easily one of the Blazers’ most dangerous offensive weapons in a short span. Not bad for a defenseman, but he has added a new dynamic to one of the most exciting teams in the CHL.
– It was quite a spicy weekend for Jayden Grubbe, who started things off with a four-point effort on Friday before recording another three points over the next two games. Taken by the New York Rangers 65th overall in 2021, Grubbe – a solid playmaking center big a big 6-foot-3 frame – is up to 52 points in 41 games in his third season as Red Deer’s captain. Before getting drafted, Grubbe’s standout quality was his own-zone play. This year, though, he has shown more confidence and skill with the puck than we’ve seen in the past.
QMJHL
– After missing the first half of the season due to injury, Nashville Predators prospect Zachary L’Heureux is on a roll. L’Heureux had three points for Halifax on Saturday, putting him at 15 goals and 29 points in 18 games. That puts him on a strong 69-point pace, which would have been closer to 90 in a full season. The 19-year-old forward is turning heads and should be able to jump up to the pro ranks with relative ease thanks to his physical play and nose for the net.
USHL
– There might not be a crazier statline among all draft prospects than Shane Lachance‘s numbers with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. He’s up to 23 goals and 30 points in 33 games and sits second in goals behind Chicago Steel forward Jack Harvey. A 19-year-old NHL prospect shredding a junior league is nothing special, but after getting selected by the Edmonton Oilers in 2021, it was hard to envision him putting up goal counts like this. He’s off to Boston University next year where he’ll look to expand on his overall game.
NCAA
– Drafted in the seventh round in 2019, Carter Gylander has been in the Detroit Red Wings‘ system for a while now. The 6-foot-5 goaltender is one of four ECAC candidates on the watchlist for the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top netminder after posting a 12-9-2 record in 23 games this season. Gylander has a .925 save percentage, aided by allowing just three goals in his past three games. He was especially incredible in a 27-save effort over Quinnipiac on Saturday night, an upset victory for Colgate University. Gylander has a 7-2-1 record over his last 10, helping to turn things around after a rough stretch to kick things off. He’s definitely someone to keep an eye on.
AHL
– Brendan Brisson‘s rookie pro season with the Henderson Silver Knights has been full of ups and downs, but he’s on a nice stretch as of late. Brisson had two goals and three points in a pair of losses to Colorado over the weekend and has six points in his past five games – his best run this season. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect has 19 points in 32 games, so he isn’t exploding offensively like he did in his seven-game stint after turning pro last year. But the 21-year-old has tremendous talent and should factor into Vegas’ middle-six plans before too long.
– The Toronto Marlies are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and that’s without some of the key players that started the year with the team before earning promotions to the Toronto Maple Leafs. One of the biggest constants, though, has been the play of Nicholas Abruzzese, who had five points in three games over the past week. Abruzzese is now up to 12 points in his past seven games, aided by four multi-point games in that stretch. With 31 points in 39 games, it’s easy to call this season a success for the 23-year-old pro rookie, who did manage to get a taste of NHL action last year. I think there’s a solid future in Toronto’s bottom six for Abruzzese.
ECHL
– It’s been a rough few years for 23-year-old Michael DiPietro, who was traded to the Boston Bruins early in the season after not finding a spot on the Abbotsford Canucks’ AHL roster. He’s up to an 8-1-0 record with Maine in the ECHL, with his lone loss coming in his second game on Nov. 26. Boston’s goalie pipeline is a bit crowded right now, with one of the NHL’s best goaltenders (Linus Ullmark) and one of the AHL’s best (Brandon Bussi) earning significant spotlight recently. DiPietro needs to finish strong to show teams he’s worthy of an extended look – he’s an RFA this summer, but will Boston keep him around?