2022-2023 Ratings Challenges- due September 25th

[philippe-Flames GM]

Quinton Byfield

SP: 77 requested 82
SK: 76 requested 83
DF: 35 requested 60


https://thehockeywriters.com/la-kings-p ... n-byfield/


Byfield is elite in nearly every area of the game; he has incredible power and speed when it comes to his skating, as well as great stickhandling and passing skills. He also possesses a stellar hockey IQ, which makes him a dangerous player when combined with his other assets.

Byfield and Kopitar have been compared to one another, with both described as players that are the full package.

Where most skaters seek out space; Byfield carries the puck like a power running back in the NFL. Blessed with a 6-foot-4 frame, explosive skating stride, and extremely gifted hands, this is a player who always wants the puck on his stick. A fantastic transporter of the puck, deploying a wide array of rush patterns to adjust to defensive fronts.


https://www.nhl.com/news/2020-nhl-draft ... -319019108

he's a guy that's so young, he's got so much upside with his combination of size and strength. The work habits he possesses, the 200-foot game he plays, his compete level. He's 6-foot-4 and not even finished growing. He's an exciting player to follow for the future."


https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/202 ... l-draft-2/



Skating

Byfield has everything that teams want in a prospect. The big centre (already 6-foot-4 and still growing) is a tremendous skater. He moves extremely well, not just for a big man, but compared to all players. His speed and acceleration help Byfield to create in the transition game as well as to get back defensively and play a 200-foot game. He also has very good agility and edgework, making him dangerous in one-on-one situations. Byfield is strong on the puck, he can fight through checks and get to the dirty areas of the ice. He is also able to use his size and strength to win battles along the boards as well as to establish his position in front of the net.

Defensive Game

Byfield is also already well-developed in his own end of the ice, playing a strong defensive game. He uses his size and his long stick to cut down on passing lanes and create turnovers. He also uses his physical size and strength to support the defence down low, helping to cut out the opponent’s cycle game. Byfield is a smart player. He is strong positionally and provides effective backpressure when defending against the rush. He is good in the face-off circle as well.



https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2020/09/ ... ings-1-31/


Show me a 6’4″ center who can skate like Byfield, and I’ll show you a top-five pick. He’s a unicorn. All of the tools there to become a top-line center.

Byfield is a lock to stay at center. Given both his speed and long reach, he will offer plenty of two-way potential here once he gets even stronger.

Byfield is a lock to stay at center. Given both his speed and long reach, he will offer plenty of two-way potential here once he gets even stronger.

[JBIsles]

Adrian Kempe
DF Rating 58 - Requested DF 70
SP Rating 75 - Requested SP 81
SK Rating 75 - Requested SK 81

A strong two-way forward and competed in the NHL fastest skater at the all star game, finishing 2nd, beating out a few players with 80+ SP/SK ratings.

He’s less of a forechecking/cycling forward than he is speedy, north/south forward. The Kings had talked in preseason about being aggressive and playing with more pace. This certainly suits Kempe....Throughout his career, the Swedish winger has been a pretty responsible and reliable two-way forward...his even-strength defense and penalty killing were stronger parts of his game...Recently, head coach Todd McLellan praised Kempe’s two-way game and referenced his back-checking ability. This is true. My take on that is if anyone can “cheat” (for lack of a better term) to the offensive side of things but still be able to get back and help on a backcheck, it’s Kempe due to his speed. This is why I don’t think he’s all of a sudden a bad or irresponsible defensive player, he’s still very capable of being a factor on the backcheck.

https://hockeyroyalty.com/2021/12/22/la ... ian-kempe/

as well as providing his same level of two-way play, Kempe was everything the Kings could have wanted and more during the 2021-22 season...Kempe also earned his first nomination to the NHL All-Star Classic, representing the Kings at the league’s midseason showcase. It was nice to see Kempe’s season rewarded with some recognition and the speedster earned himself second place in the fastest skater competition during the skills competition.

https://lakingsinsider.com/2022/06/08/2 ... ian-kempe/

He has a good defensive game for a player with his offensive skills, he’s mobile, solid and strong. He’s a power forward, strong along the boards with smooth hands and is a very speedy skater. He’s a solid two-way forward.”...“He’s a great skater. He’s got good size, he’s tall, he’s a very responsible two-way player.”...He borders on [being] an elite skater.

https://frozenroyalty.net/2014/06/28/20 ... e-a-glove/

Has a fast, straightlined approach....Speedy scoring forward

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player/adrian-ke ... r_id=92231

[JBIsles]

Joel Erikkson Ek
DF Rating 71 - Requested DF 76
SP Rating 68 - Requested SP 72
SK Rating 70 - Requested SK 72

Eriksson Ek finished 7th in Selke voting but is only a 71 DF. For reference, Kopitar finished 6th and is a 77DF. 70SP/SK seem to be average, but he is certainly above average.
https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins- ... -334482070

The next player on this list has to be the most defensive-minded forward on the entire Wild roster, center Joel Eriksson Ek. He’s another player that can see things unfold and be prepared for them, except he’s more defensive-focused. He’s been talked about for years about being in the running for the Selke Trophy and while he hasn’t won it, he’s always in the conversation.
Eriksson Ek focuses on the defensive side of his game and he was just beaten out by Ryan Hartman for most blocked shots by a forward last season; Hartman had 48, while Eriksson Ek had 44. While he knew when to block shots, he also knew when to use his physicality to change the momentum of the game.

https://thehockeywriters.com/wilds-3-pl ... hockey-iq/

Of course, when Eriksson Ek’s name is mentioned, his defensive stats have to be looked at too. The last couple of seasons it seemed like he would get snubbed for the Selke Trophy that goes to the forward who consistently plays a defensive game, something that he’s known for throughout the league, but often gets overlooked when award season comes around.

https://thehockeywriters.com/wild-2022- ... iksson-ek/

he found his way back to Greenway and Foligno, reuniting one of the best lines in the league. Those three are hardly ever on the ice when a goal is scored against them, out-scoring opponents 23-4 at 5-on-5 this year....are relentless in their puck pursuit...He should be known as ‘Mr. Underappreciated’ for how much he does that is overlooked. People often forget that he was fourth in Selke voting last season....As the center of one of the best shutdown lines in the league, Eriksson Ek will always be a pain to play against. He can score and be on the top power play and penalty kill units. Eriksson Ek is like a hockey utility man; he’s good anywhere he plays. He might not ever win team MVP, but he’s definitely a huge part of the Wild’s success this year.

https://zonecoverage.com/2022/wild/joel ... ealth-mvp/

A smart player, he is sound at both ends of the ice...Two way center with improving offensive and elite defensive skills.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player/joel-erik ... _id=106675

Joel Eriksson-Ek won’t be confused for a speedster, but his skating has really improved from what we saw at the Ivan Hlinka. His stride is a lot longer now than when we saw him last summer, and his speed and acceleration are now above average. He’s even shown the ability to go wide on defenders and cut to the net off the rush. He has a lot of lower body strength though, which allows him to fight through checks, win board battles and establish position in front of the net. He also has good edgework, and agility. Eriksson-Ek always had the other tools in his game, but skating was a big question mark. Now with those concerns greatly eased, we have seen the improvements in his game, and the corresponding rise in his draft stock.

https://lastwordonsports.com/2015/04/20 ... iksson-ek/

[JBIsles]

Johnny Gaudreau
DF Rating 54 - Requested DF 68

Had a remarkable season at both ends of the ice. While a 54 may have been a fair rating in previous years, it certainly isn't after this past season.


Gaudreau finished 27th in Selke voting
https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins- ... -334482070

Even more impressive, Gaudreau is third in the league in plus/minus. While it is a flawed stat, this level of dominance shows his ability to drive puck the right way and limit chances against. It was this strong two-way play that earned him high praise from head coach Darryl Sutter, who said that Gaudreau is “one of the best 200-foot players in the league right now.” This is enormous praise from the generally stoic bench boss. Let’s break down just how good he has been at both ends of the ice...However over the course of this season in particular, Sutter has been able to train Gaudreau to play effectively at both ends of the ice...However, it is clear that given his play of late, the Flames’ bench boss trusts Gaudreau’s instincts and defensive abilities to put him in such a difficult position on the man advantage. This is perhaps as high a compliment as the quote itself. It shows that Sutter walks the talk with his players on the ice. For a player who has always filed working on his two-way game in the areas of improvement category, it is clear that Gaudreau has taken huge strides in this part of his game.

https://thewincolumn.ca/2022/01/04/john ... is-career/

Those who wondered how Johnny Gaudreau would fit into Darryl Sutter’s defensive-minded system now have their answer: Brilliantly...What few saw coming was that he’s also quietly gone about incorporating a defensive responsibility into his game that has him leading the league in a stat few would ever have associated with him. Gaudreau is one of just two players with over 100 minutes of ice time that has yet to be scored on 5-on-5. The other is Matthew Tkachuk, which says plenty about the impact their top line has had this season, outscoring the opposition 11-0 at even-strength as a line.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/fl ... dominance/

While his offensive contributions were elite, he was fantastic defensively as well. His game away from the puck had been something throughout his career that had caught flack at times, but that changed in 2021-22. In fact, his head coach Darryl Sutter proclaimed in early January that he was one of the best 200-foot players in the game. His plus/minus of plus-64, which is the best total the league has seen since Wayne Gretzky back in 1986-87, certainly helps back that claim up.

https://thehockeywriters.com/flames-202 ... -gaudreau/

What may surprise you about Gaudreau is that he played his best defensive hockey this past season in Calgary. Gaudreau bought in to head coach Darryl Sutter’s system and had the best season of his career on both ends of the rink.

https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2022/ ... gudbranson

[sabres]

Pierre Engvall - SABRES
DF RATING 58 - REQUESTED 70
https://thehockeywriters.com/maple-leaf ... -physical/

"Engvall’s Biggest Strength Is His Defense
After being drafted by the Maple Leafs eight years ago, Engvall has developed slowly. At the age of 26, an age where most players have peaked, Engvall still seems to be continuing his slow development.

Engvall’s biggest strength is his defensive play without the puck. With this being a study of the eye test, we don’t want to get into statistics. However, in the three seasons, Engvall has been with the big club, he has been at, or near, the top of all of the defensive analytic categories.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe must recognize Engvall’s defensive strengths as he has him start the vast majority of his shifts in the defensive zone. He was an important part of the shutdown third line last season."


https://editorinleaf.com/2022/07/18/tor ... extension/

"He’s above average offensively, and defensively. Last year, with David Kampf, Engvall was used in an extremely uncommon defensive role.

Most player’s usage is nowhere near as extreme as the Kampf-Engvall line used by the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. In the entire NHL, nobody *(min. 800 minutes) started less of their shifts in the offensive zone than David Kampf. Pierre Engvall was ranked 10th."


carter verhaeghe - SABRES
DF RATING 59 - REQUESTED 65
https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/2038 ... _Verhaeghe
"A late bloomer, he has found a role in the NHL after it looked like he might be a career journeyman. He has good playmaking skills, and his plus/minus numbers indicate that he is a defensively responsible forward willing to play a 200-foot game. Can also drive play to force opponents to defend rather than attack."


CODY CECI - SABRES
DF RATING 70 - REQUESTED 73

[Blake-Habs]

Nick Paul - Challenge 1 from Seattle
SP 71->82
SK 70->82
DF 65->72

Paul is a fast skater

His size and speed allow him to easily carry the puck into the O-Zone and create offensive opportunities.

https://insidetherink.com/big-nick-ener ... olas-paul/

Nick Paul won the Canadian Tire Fastest Skater competition for Team Red with a time of 14.24 seconds!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1174201309395658

Paul is a fast skater

https://www.google.com/search?q=nick+pa ... e&ie=UTF-8

skate real fast

https://forums.hfboards.com/threads/nick-paul.2801461/

This season, he took 347 defensive zone draws for the Senators — the most of any player on the roster by a wide margin

https://www.google.com/search?q=nick+pa ... nt=gws-wiz

Nick Paul, traded to TB, is a defensive centre best-suited to a bottom-six and penalty kill role

https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status ... 26?lang=en

The hard-working Paul has emerged as one of the Senators' top defensive forwards

https://www.google.com/search?q=nick+pa ... nt=gws-wiz

Constant 50% or above faceoff man and had Selke votes last season
https://www.hockey-reference.com/player ... lni01.html

He was one of Smith’s most trusted players when defending the lead and on the penalty kill, and for good reason

Paul profiles as an impressive defensive stopper

If we chart his time in the NHL, you can see his defensive impact increasing

Paul’s secured his place on the team, and in the league, by making sure there are no chances against when he’s on the ice and he’s quite good at it

he’s a powerful skater who is diligent with his defensive assignments, and he isn’t afraid to finish his check when the opportunity presents itself

Paul may not have taken a step forward offensively but he became an even better version of the defensive presence that he was in the season prior. His sterling defensive resume earned him an invitation to the World Hockey Championships to represent Team Canada

the Finns win the face-off but Paul reads the play perfectly and picks off the pass back to the point to start the two-on-one that leads to the goal

Defensively sublime

https://www.silversevensens.com/2021/8/ ... a-senators

Ranked 14th in total shorthanded ice time played this year, above notable players (who played in the same amount of games range) like Mikael Backlund(75DF), Joel Eriksson Ek(71DF) and Sebastian Aho(70DF), just to name a few
https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?repor ... ageSize=50

Is capable of playing in any scenario, provides a physical presence and can kill penalties effectively

https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/20304/Nicholas_Paul

[JBIsles]

Nikita Kucherov (1st acquired from Dallas)
DF Rating 59 - Requested DF 66

Kucherov is a smart, solid two way player as evidenced below:

Nonetheless, it’s easy to look at the star winger’s demeanour and jump to conclusions about his work ethic and level of care. But doing so signals a failure to recognize the site (or lack thereof, if puns are your thing) of most of his heavy lifting: his brain. Constantly churning and processing information at a rapid pace, Kucherov’s mind is something of a hockey world wonder. Lightning coach Jon Cooper offered the following summary prior to night one of this year’s playoffs: Jon Cooper on Nikita Kucherov’s ability to be a step ahead: “I've never seen anybody as good as Kuch in that regard, with or without the puck, of just being so damn intelligent. He finds his way into unbelievable situations for himself & it's a marvel to watch.”Further to Cooper’s point, we see the highlight-reel plays Kucherov makes with possession, but what we often miss are the sneaky smart moves that precede – and ultimately set the table for – those plays. Simply put, we miss how elite he is at creating advantages for his team before he even touches the puck. If you watch Kucherov – and I mean really watch him – it’s like he’s playing poker on the ice. He’s mastered the art of bluffing and knows how to manipulate the positioning of opponents in a way that suits him.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/po ... -the-puck/

Throughout the spring and into summer, he's played as he always has, using a solid two-way game, explosive skating and a deadly shot.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/294 ... up?src=rss

The knock of Kucherov was that he would need to become a better defensive player to thrive in the NHL. He has done that and showed his ability to be on the ice for more goals scored for than against with a plus-38 rating two last season. He dropped to a plus-9 this year, but was still a very good two-way player. He is always going to be an offense first guy, but is no longer a liability on the defensive side of the puck.

+
https://www.timesonline.com/story/sport ... 548407007/

Kucherov quickly established himself as a formidable scorer and strong two-way presence

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschra ... 19d2397793

[Blake-Habs]

Evan Rodrigues - Challenge 2 from Seattle
SP 70->80
SK 71->80
DF 56->67

Rodrigues was a zone entry wizard this season, being one of the very best players on the rush in the whole league. He used his wheels to carry the puck into the opponent’s end frequently

On expected goals, Rodrigues was one of the finest forwards in Pittsburgh this season — arguably the best in this regard. He kept expected goals down

overall found himself on the right side of play by using his speed and willingness to shoot the puck

https://www.pensburgh.com/2022/5/31/231 ... nguins-nhl

He’s better defensively than casual observers realize

We are excited to add a two-way player with Evan’s versatility to our group,” said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. “He is coming off his best offensive season and has shown he can play in a variety of roles and help a lineup in many ways.

Speed for breakaways

https://coloradohockeynow.com/2022/09/1 ... avalanche/

His speed was evident as he darted through traffic to control loose pucks, he skated the puck out of the defensive zone to both alleviate pressure and create it

The book on Rodrigues was speed, versatility

His versatility gives the Penguins another option

https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/e-rod-e ... -penguins/

Rodrigues was also used on the Sabres' power play and penalty kill. Last season he led the Sabres with four shorthanded points.

Rodrigues has the speed to fit in with the Penguins' identity this season

https://legacy.dkpittsburghsports.com/2 ... trade-tlh/

Rodrigues' speed is like a breath of fresh air

https://www.diebytheblade.com/2018/4/20 ... alo-sabres

[Blake-Habs]

Timo Meier - Challenge 3 from Seattle
SP 73->78
SK 74->78
DF 58->64

“He’s bought into knowing that he needs to be a 200-foot player, that’s going to give him success on the offensive side of things,”

The winger’s defensive commitment allows his linemates up the ice to get back on defense.

“The better he plays defensively,” Boughner said, “the less he’s going to be in his own end.”

https://sanjosehockeynow.com/san-jose-s ... oughts-28/

He's a solid and strong skater both with and without the puck

Meier skates well

Good first steps and speed

All-in-all, the kind of versatile player that you can put on a skill line, and trust to create dangerous chances, or on a shutdown line, and trust to help stop pucks from going into your net

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2015/NHL-Draf ... Timo-Meier

An improved skating stride and more speed have really helped Timo Meier this season

Meier is already an effective two-way player

anticipating plays well and using his long stick to break up passes, and start the transition. He is a willing back checker who provides excellent back pressure in support of his defencemen. Meier is not afraid to get physical in his own end, containing his man down low, and working to win battles on the boards. He is also more than willing to block shots, if necessary

https://lastwordonsports.com/2015/04/14 ... imo-meier/

explosive two-step quickness

He has a nice blend of power, speed and skill

the Sharks' ninth-round pick in 2015 is a mixture of speed, size, skill and tenacity

His defensive zone coverage is improving

Away from the puck, Meier has been doing a good job using his body to separate opposing players from the puck

https://dobberprospects.com/2017/05/27/timo-meier/

Meier is a power forward who loves to slice through the attacking zone, using deceptive speed to pick up scoring chances

https://www.rotowire.com/hockey/player/timo-meier-4781

Timo's skating well

https://www.tsn.ca/meier-s-hat-trick-pr ... -1.1777109

Meier skating is very good

does well on edges

https://hockeyprophets.com/index.php/62-playerpages/417

A big and strong forward who can skate

https://www.fearthefin.com/2016/8/12/12 ... timo-meier

Meier is a powerful skater with a sturdy 6'0”, 210-pound frame. He's strong enough to fend off defenders in the corners and fast enough

https://pucky.com/player/timo-meier/

In a series where the only thing more valuable than brawn, speed and skill is somebody with all three, 22-year-old Timo Meier is going to be a problem for the St. Louis Blues

“The way he skates, with his strength, he’s tough to defend. He’s really coming into his own right now.”

https://edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/n ... n-playoffs

[Pete]

Matthew Tkachuk
DF: 49 > 65


Ranked 27th in Selke voting
Ranked 3rd in plus/minus
Better numbers than Elias Lindholm (71 DF) in the three major analytics

https://sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/2600 ... ew_Tkachuk

He is excellent at puck retrieval, and his defensive game continues to improve. He is moving into the ranks of the NHL's best overall wingers as he enters the prime of his career.

https://thehockeywriters.com/flames-pla ... w-tkachuk/

His 104 points trailed only Johnny Gaudreau’s 115 for the team lead, while his 42 goals were tied for first alongside Elias Lindholm. Those three formed what many would argue was the best line in hockey this season, as they were great at both ends of the ice, proven by Tkachuk’s plus-57 rating.

Tkachuk vs Lindholm:
https://thewincolumn.ca/2022/03/08/matt ... y-forward/
CA/60: Tkachuk - 45.66 (4), Lindholm - 48.18 (6)
GA/60: Tkachuk - 1.67 (2), Lindholm - 1.79 (4)
XGA/60: Tkachuk - 2.11 (3), Lindholm - 2.17 (5)









----------


Mason Marchment
Current DF 35
Asking DF 70

https://theleafsnation.com/2019/05/17/h ... portunity/
His details defensively

https://www.japersrink.com/2022/5/2/230 ... -marchment
Marchment has spent most of his time this season in a very effective defensive

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/202 ... -panthers/
On the defensive side of things, Mason is highly responsible and disruptive to the other team

https://pucksandpitchforks.com/2022/07/ ... marchment/
He is an extremely good defensive winger, one of the best in the league

https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards ... elke_stats
Marchment #18 on the list have 35 DF
Nichushkin #20 have 63 DF
Pavelski #22 have 67 DF
J.T. Miller #23 have 67 DF
Andrew Copp #24 have 68 DF
Trocheck #24 have 72 DF


*both have been copied from the CDNHL challenges with permission of the authors