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NHL, USHL & NAHL Draft Analysis - 2004 National Camp Scouting Report - Video Highlights & More !
Welcome to the TSA Scouting Journal, your one stop shop for North American hockey coverage, providing coverage of Midget, Junior (Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3), and Collegiate hockey.
USA Hockey National Camp Report
6.23.21 - 6.28.21
The nation’s top 2004 birth year players battled it out to represent the USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August. Our scouts were on hand and produced the following report highlighting some of the top talent.
Draft Analysis - NAHL
Another comprehensive breakdown of the top tier II junior league in the United States, the North American Hockey League ! Our full report includes breakdowns of where the top talent is coming from, as well as positions trends and top stories !
The TSA Scouting Journal strives to be the top blog for North American collegiate, junior and midget hockey. We provide both free and subscriber only content all year long to keep coaches, scouts, players and families up to date on all things hockey !
2021 NHL Draft
Be sure to subscribe to access our full 2021 NHL Draft Analysis report coming later this month !
Top Stories
Sabres Begin Rebuild
The Buffalo Sabres made splashes around draft day, trading Ristolainen and Reinhart, but most importantly drafting Owen Power at #1 overall. Power, from the University of Michigan and USHL’s Chicago Steel, was the consensus top prospect, and will fit right in with fellow #1 overall defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres received Robert Hagg, #14th overall selection in the 2021 draft, as well as 2023 second rounder in exchange for the imposing Finnish defenseman. For Reinhart, Buffalo received a 2022 1st round selection, and goaltending prospect Devon Levi. Levi, the 19 year old Northeastern commit, is fresh off a stellar showing at World Juniors for Team Canada, and is a prospect that could be a future answer in net for the Sabres.
Top Five All Big Blue
Red Berenson is doing something special at the University of Michigan, as 4 of the top 5 picks were all current or future Wolverines, including the top 2 picks with Owen Powers to Buffalo and Matt Beniers to Seattle. Luke Hughes at 4th overall is a future Wolverine and Kent Johnson, arguably one of the top skilled players of the draft, was selected 5th overall by Columbus played last year for Michigan.
Family Ties
The 2021 draft was full of family connections. The Devils selected Luke Hughes at #4 overall, brother of 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes. Chicago drafted Colton Dach, brother of Kirby Dach, in the 2nd round at 62 overall. Shane Doan, the legendary Arizona Coyote’s captain and current Chief Hockey Development Officer with the Yotes, had the unique opportunity of watching his son drafted by the same organization when he Coyote’s took Josh Doan with the 37th overall pick.
Canucks Land Two Key Pieces
The Canucks acquired Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland from Arizona in exchange for the 9th overall selection, and veteran forwards Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. The Coyotes had to forfeit their 11th overall selection due to violating the NHL Combine Testing Policy last year, and have been on the market for dealing both Ekman-Larsson and Garland this off-season.
For the Canucks, this trade adds so much to their lineup. Ekman-Larsson brings skill in all areas of the rink, as well as in the locker room. Most importantly, the steady Swedish defenseman will allow breathing room for offensively gifted Quinn Hughes by handling more of the defensive responsibilities. And for Garland, the undersized winger is fresh off 39 points in 49 games, and was the Coyotes best player night in and night out. The 5th round pick in 2015 adds an offensive flair that can match up well with either Pettersson or Horvat in the middle for Vancouver. The acquisition does put Vancouver in a tight spot financially, but is a vast improvement on the ice. Time will tell if the risk will pay off.
Cosa and Wallstedt First of Many Goaltenders
The top 2 goaltenders were selected in the middle of the first round, with Detroit selecting Sebastion Cossa out of the WHL, and Minnesota selecting Jesper Wallstedt out of Sweden. 21 goaltenders were selected in total, with 5 coming out of Russia (KHL or MHL), 3 from each the OHL and WHL, and 2 from American tier II junior leagues, one from the NAHL and NCDC.
Highlights
Simon Edvinsson - ‘03 Defenseman - Vasteras IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
#2 Ranked European Skater
Pick : Detroit #6 Overall, 1st Round
Matthew Coronato - ‘02 Forward - Chicago Steel (USHL)
#9 Ranked North American Skater
Commit : Harvard University
Pick : Calgary #9 Overall, 1st Round
Cole Sillinger - ‘03 Forward - Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
#10 Ranked North American Skater
Pick : Columbus #12 Overall, First Round
Tristan Broz - ‘02 Forward - Fargo Force (USHL)
#28 Ranked North American Skater
Commit : University of Minnesota
Pick : Pittsburgh #58 Overall, Second Round
Want to read about just junior hockey ? Or maybe you want to read just our combine and showcase reports? Check out our new collections tabs at the top of the TSA Scouting Journal !
Kraken Draft Thoughts
Building a team is never easy. We break down Seattle's Expansion and Entry Draft Selections
ICYMI - Draft Analysis - USHL Phase I & II
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