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Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Vancouver Canucks target speedy winger Vit Zahejsky as late-round gem for 2025 NHL Draft
Vít Záhejský (via Getty Images) Vít Záhejský is coming up as a dark horse prospect for the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, with a complete allotment of picks on their side. One of a handful of compelling candidates in the later rounds, Vít Záhejský — an energetic Czech forward with the Kamloops Blazers — may be a high-upside gamble for the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round (175th overall). With his combination of speed, skill, and tireless work ethic, Vít Záhejský may be the kind of low-risk, high-reward option the Canucks want to add to their system. Vit Zahejsky's skills and speed made him Vancouver Canucks' sixth-round option View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) Vít Záhejský raised his profile with a strong second half of the season and an impressive performance at the U18 World Championship. Playing for Czechia, the 17-year-old netted four goals and contributed five points in five games, demonstrating the goal-scoring savvy and skating ability that NHL scouts covet. What makes Vít Záhejský so appealing to the Vancouver Canucks is his world-class skating and playmaking at full speed. Cited as one of the fastest skaters in the WHL this year, Vít Záhejský beat defenders in puck battles and amazed with shifty puck-handling moves regularly. His game is predicated on movement — he's always on the move in both zones, and in the defensive zone, he applies the motor to harass puck handlers and blow up plays. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Website Builder — Create a Website in Minutes — Shopify Shopify Get Offer Undo But as with most raw talents, Záhejský has aspects to work on. His offense-zone performance is still a work in progress, especially in getting the puck into high-quality areas such as the slot. His defensive zone sense can also disappear at times, with the young winger sometimes leaving his man to go after loose pucks. These are aspects that NHL developmental programs are designed to correct. Standing 5-foot-10 and 167 pounds, Záhejský doesn't necessarily offer imposing size but makes up for it with effort and potential. He's a pick that can end up paying long-term rewards for a team that wants to be patient and invest in his development. Also read: Basile Sansonnens Memorial Cup performance raises questions for Vancouver Canucks With a strong draft class coming forward, the Vancouver Canucks can go for the upside in the deeper rounds — and Vít Záhejský fits many of the criteria. His combination of speed, competitiveness, and raw talent makes him a tantalizing sixth-round prospect who might develop into a surprise NHL contributor with proper instruction. Although he's not ready for prime time, Záhejský is precisely the type of prospect every team wishes to find late on draft day.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Here's why James Hagens is declining in the NHL Draft as Matthew Schaefer moves up
James Hagens (via Getty Images) What was once the clear top prospect of the 2025 NHL Draft, James Hagens' stock has dropped—and the New York Islanders are faced with a franchise-altering decision. Following an MVP performance at the 2024 U18 World Championship and a prohibitive USHL season, he was a strong favorite to be taken No. 1 overall. Then why is he no longer at the top of most draft boards? Concerns about James Hagens' NHL game change View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) For all his bloodlines and offensive skill, NHL scouts have started to wonder how James Hagens' game will translate to the next level. He's a bit undersized at barely 5-foot-11 and lacks a physical component. Scouts have noted stretches of his NCAA season where he vanished in even-strength play, failing to get inside versus more physical defenders and landing with a less-than-expected goal total. James Hagens, born-and-raised Long Islander and lifelong Isles supporter, would be the sentimental choice. Comparisons to Tavares are unavoidable. But sentiment won't win playoff series — and currently, scouts overwhelmingly think defenseman Matthew Schaefer is the best player in the class. Matthew Schaefer, a 6-foot-2 blueliner with exceptional skating and excellent two-way skills, is considered a potential top-pairing NHL blueliner of the future. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 21st Century Skills Start with Confident Communication Planet Spark Learn More Undo Even in struggling with injuries this year, he dictated games on the back end with a physicality and composure Hagens has not yet matched. 'Schaefer is the only truly special player in this draft,' a scout told The Athletic. 'Other than maybe Misa, Schaefer is in a tier of his own.' The Islanders seem not to be in rebuild mode or fighting for survival anymore. With a new arena, playoff seasoning, and sound ownership, they can't miss on a franchise defenseman like Schaefer. 'They'd be going way off the board in the eyes of most teams if they took Hagens,' said one NHL scout. Also read: James Hagens continues to shine despite quieter season at Boston College The bottom line James Hagens is still one of the best-scoring players in this class. But for a top-six team drafting first overall — especially one that has true playoff hopes — the selection has to be made with an eye toward constructing a championship core. That choice, according to almost everyone in scouting, is Matthew Schaefer. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
New York Times
06-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Red Wings draft targets: Who could Detroit pick at No. 13?
The Athletic has live coverage of the NHL Draft Lottery. Another NHL Draft Lottery, another day where the balls just didn't bounce the Red Wings' way. Detroit entered the lottery with just a 2.5 percent chance of winning, so moving up was always a long shot. But yet again, despite having only four teams behind them in the order coming in, they actually dropped a spot. They will pick at No. 13. By this point, the Red Wings' needs are no secret. Detroit's pipeline needs more dynamic talent in the top six, a top-four left-shot defenseman, and, as general manager Steve Yzerman recently noted, a harder element throughout its lineup. The 2025 draft class thins out fairly quickly, and for that reason, we won't spend time on the prospects who are highly unlikely to make it to Detroit's spot on the board. But there should still be a handful of good fits available to the Red Wings, even at 13. So, with the draft order now set, let's take a look at who those fits might be, as well as a few higher-ranked names who could fall, and some others to know. Brady Martin, C, Soo (OHL) If you're looking for forwards who fit the Red Wings 'prototype' in recent years, Martin's at the top of that list. He's a competitive, physical forward who can be trusted in all situations but also has real puck skills and put up 72 points (including 33 goals) in 57 OHL games this season. He's not the tallest at 6 feet, but he's sturdily built, and it shows in the punishing hits he delivers. He was a force in the U18 World Championship gold-medal game, scoring two goals and making a major impact on the game. Yzerman has said the Red Wings want to be harder, and Martin would add to that in a big way. The only issue now, especially after the Red Wings dropped a spot: was Martin too good at the U18s to still be on the board at 13? Advertisement Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD, Barrie (OHL) Aitcheson would check just about every box for the Red Wings' big-picture needs. He looks like a top-four defenseman on the left side, with the kind of toughness and edge the Red Wings are trying to cultivate in their team. He has shown legit offense at the junior level, with 26 goals in 64 games this season for Barrie — third among all OHL defenseman, trailing only top-11 picks Zayne Parekh (33) and Sam Dickinson (29). And he has some clutch to him, with six game-winning goals and a three-point showing in Game 7 of his second-round playoff series. It's very easy to envision him as a long-term partner for either Moritz Seider or Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL) Bear also feels like a Red Wings pick, with good competitiveness, a willingness to get to the hard areas of the ice, but also — crucially — a little more skill to his game. He had 40 goals and 82 points in just 56 games this season for Everett, and his fluid offensive game in the middle of the ice would make him an outstanding complement to what the Red Wings already have in place. The only issue: a reported Achilles injury that ended his season early. If Detroit feels comfortable with the medical, though, he might be the best fit on the board. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) Carbonneau was second in the QMJHL in scoring this season with 46 goals and 89 points. Red Wings fans have been burned before by stat lines from the Q, but in Carbonneau's case, the tools backing up that production are pretty impressive. He has good skating and size at 6-1, nice hands, gets to the middle and has a big-time shot. That's a nice tool kit for a scoring winger. Victor Eklund, LW, Djurgårdens (Allsvenskan) Eklund is a great skater, plays hard and can really rip it, but there's at least a chance he slips into the Red Wings' range because of his size, as a skinny 5-11 winger. His 19 goals playing against men in the Allsvenskan (Sweden's second division) should be enough to overcome the anxieties that come with drafting a small winger in the top 10, but if he does slip, he'd bring top-six (and maybe top-line) potential to Detroit's system. Advertisement Roger McQueen, C/W, Brandon (WHL) McQueen was once in the top-five conversation for this class as a skilled 6-5 center who moves well for his size, but a back injury shortened his season and makes his range harder to pin down. That injury has to be a source of caution, but if it means McQueen floats on the board a little longer than expected, he could have the highest pure upside on this list. The medical will, of course, be the key, but it's a highly intriguing skill set. Radim Mrtka, RHD, Seattle (WHL) Mrtka is in the conversation for the second-best defenseman in this draft, and as a 6-6 right-shot, it feels unlikely he'll last too long on draft day. But stranger things have happened, and Mrtka's length, skill and skating for his size make for a compelling package. Detroit's long-term top-four probably needs a lefty more than another righty, but the value of right-hand shots is always at a premium, and Mrtka is such a different profile than smaller puck-mover Sandin-Pellikka that the Red Wings could easily justify it if Mrtka is still around. A future right side of Seider, Mrtka and Sandin-Pellikka would be loaded. Cameron Reid, LHD, Kitchener (OHL) Reid is an excellent skater and was an absolute horse for Kitchener in the OHL playoffs, regularly playing close to 30 minutes a night. In a perfect world, you might want a bit more offense from a 6-foot defenseman to pick him at 13, but he plays hard and has skill in his game, and his feet give him a high floor and a way to impact the game at both ends. Detroit's comfort level with the smaller size (particularly with Sandin-Pellikka already in the fold) is the key factor here, but there's a lot to like in Reid's game. Jackson Smith, LHD, Tri-City (WHL) Smith is coming off a rocky showing at the U18 World Championship, but there is a boom-bust element to his projection. The boom potential is easy: He's a smooth-skating 6-3 defenseman with nice puck skills and a good defensive stick. That sounds like a top-four defenseman. The flip side is that he can have some frustrating turnovers, and despite his size, the physical side of his game still leaves something to be desired. Cole Reschny, C/W, Victoria (WHL) Reschny is an undersized forward, listed at 5-10, but he's coming off an outstanding playoffs in Victoria, where he put up 25 points in 11 games, and was a big part of Canada's gold-medal team at the U18 World Championship. He had five goals in five games at that tournament, including an OT winner to push Canada past Czechia in the quarterfinal, and has shown impressive skill and playmaking ability. The size is the question — particularly for Detroit, which is already on the lighter side in its top six — but Reschny has a lot of likeable elements to his game. Advertisement Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL) Nesbitt is a big body at 6-4, with the physicality you'd expect, plus nice hands for his size and the poise to make plays with the puck. The question is his skating, which looks heavy right now. If adding more muscle turns that into a more explosive, powerful stride, then it's not hard to imagine Nesbitt as a versatile piece of a lineup, bringing hard elements and skill to a top-six line, or as a menace on a third line. It takes some projection, but there are some intriguing tools here. (Photo of Brady Martin: Kevin Sousa / Getty Images)
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Suzdalev Is Shining In South Carolina
The path to hockey can take different routes: roller hockey, floor hockey, even bandy. That's how South Carolina Stingrays forward Alexander Suzdalev was turned onto the sport. Born in Khabarovsk, Russia, Suzdalev was introduced to hockey by his father, a professional bandy player. Bandy, a sport similar to field hockey but played on ice with 11 players per side and a rubber ball instead of a puck, was Suzdalev's first experience on skates. However, he quickly gravitated toward hockey. "I started skating when I was two years old,' Suzdalev said via Stingrays PR. 'I started with bandy first, but then I switched right to hockey. My dad tried both hockey and bandy but chose to play bandy.' 'He wanted to let me choose too, and I'm thankful that I chose hockey because I think it's better," he added with a laugh. Hockey has certainly been the right choice for Suzdalev, who is making an impact in his first season of North American professional hockey. Drafted by the Washington Capitals 70th overall in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Suzdalev signed a three-year entry-level contract with Washington on July 15, 2022. He has spent most of this season in the ECHL with the Stingrays, Washington's ECHL affiliate, and has emerged as one of the team's top offensive contributors, recording 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 36 games. At age seven, Suzdalev moved to Sweden, where he spent the majority of his youth hockey career. He played in the small town of Vetlanda, which also produced NHL stars like Erik Karlsson and Johan Franzen. "He (Erik Karlsson) actually came back and visited us and skated with us once," Suzdalev recalled. "Also, Johan Franzen is from there, too, and he was a Detroit Red Wings legend. We looked up to those two guys because they came from a small village and made it to the NHL." Suzdalev's development in Sweden led him to international success. He won a U18 World Championship with the Swedish national junior team. After being drafted by the Capitals, Suzdalev attended their Development Camp, where he immediately impressed Washington's Director of Minor League Operations, Jason Fitzsimmons. "I'd seen him on video, but I never saw him live until we got him over here in North America for Development Camp," Fitzsimmons told the Stingrays. "Right away, you could see the skill and the confidence with the puck. We knew he was going to be something special here. I think right now, he's on the perfect path to play in the NHL." Following the draft, Suzdalev played the 2022-23 season with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he recorded 86 points (38-48-86) in 66 games. In Regina, he played alongside former 2023-24 NHL Rookie of the Year and current Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. In 2023-24, Suzdalev continued in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades, tallying 25 points in 30 regular-season games and 13 points in 16 playoff games. The Capitals placed him in the WHL to help him adjust to the North American style of play. "I think it was the right path, going to North America and getting used to playing in a smaller rink," Suzdalev said. "It was a little bit of an adjustment because everything happens quicker on the smaller ice. You have to think faster and be quicker. I think that's when skill takes over." This season marks Suzdalev's first as a professional in North America. He turned 21 on March 5 and has taken significant strides in his development. Fitzsimmons saw the ECHL as the ideal place for Suzdalev to continue growing within the Capitals' system. "The ECHL is the perfect sweet spot for where he is in his development," Fitzsimmons explained. "It's better than junior hockey, and it's not quite the AHL yet, but it's not far off. So I think it's perfect for his development. We wanted him under our umbrella, where he could get the development from our South Carolina coaches, whom we have incredible faith in." Suzdalev has embraced his opportunity with the Stingrays. "I really wanted to come here to see how this league is and how I can develop here," Suzdalev said. "I've been liking it a lot so far. It's good hockey, good physicality, and good for me to develop. I want to get to the NHL." Stingrays Head Coach Jared Nightingale has been impressed with Suzdalev's performance this season. "Suzy is very talented, and his ceiling is extremely high," Nightingale said. "I think he has done a good job embracing being here and getting better. He has played junior hockey, and now he's playing against men. It's important for his development to face that physicality night in and night out. And I think that's where Suzy has done a really good job." Suzdalev also had the opportunity to play two games for the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate, in February. He viewed it as a positive experience. "It was great to have that opportunity in Hershey, especially since I've been playing a lot here," Suzdalev said. "I definitely felt like a different player, coming in there with all the playing time here and how I have developed. I went there with a great mindset and did my best to help the team win, and it was good that we won both games." With his skill, work ethic, and the right developmental path, Suzdalev is well on his way to achieving his NHL dreams.
