In the biggest showcase game of the hockey season, the CHL Top Prospects Game was choppy at times, but often allowed for mass evaluations of the best draft-eligible players. The point of this game is not to pinpoint performances, given that many of the players do not belong to the same age group and are being jammed together into a team in a period of days. Instead, the game provides valuable information in the form of indicators of prospect value on a qualitative level.
The following are comments on players who are noteworthy for one reason or another.
Connor McDavid, C, Erie-OHL
In the mandatory Connor McDavid analysis, he wasn't a super-dominant mega-prospect, but he played very well, which seems to be his floor at times. His speed and puck skills are of the very highest grades, and he's the rare player for which "you can only hope to contain him" rings true. From the first shift, to when he turned the defenders around, to the end of the game, it didn't take much to see he is a special prospect.
Paul Bittner, LW, Portland-WHL
Bittner wasn't a huge standout but was solid and consistently effective on every shift. He's a big, strong winger who is hard on the puck, skates very well for a man his size, has decent skill and a bullet of a shot. Is he a first-rounder? I'm not quite there yet, but this performance could be part of a shift in my position, even if I don't see high-end abilities at either end of the rink.
Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John-QMJHL
I'm not all the way onboard with Chabot as a clear first-rounder, but I'm getting there, and I was very impressed by him in this game. He's got a pro frame, wins battles and makes defensive stops while also being a very easy and impressive skater. Chabot's raw physical tools are intriguing, but he didn't seem to be behind the very quick pace of this game and was able to make plays.
Vince Dunn, D, Niagara
Dunn was playing in his local rink and put on a pretty good show for his fans. He's certainly an offensively tiled defenseman with great skating, plus hands, and he likes to join the attack. He was very dangerous in the transition game and helped the puck movement that led to a number of scoring chances. His defense wasn't horrible, he won some battles and stopped a few rushes, but he also got beat once or twice and has to clean up that area of his game.
Travis Konecny, C, Ottawa-OHL
Konecny was put on a line with Connor McDavid and while that will help make anyone look good, Konecny was creating in his own right. His multi-goal night aside, he looked like one of the best players on the ice, if not the best. He has great speed and work ethic, which helped him make plays in both ends, but he also possesses pretty good vision and was able to create plays for his line. He hasn't blown people away this season the way some may have hoped, but he showed his massive potential. In my opinion, even though I don't think he'll be picked in that range, he's a top-half-of-the-first-round prospect.
Liam Herbst, G, Ottawa-OHL
Herbst was the only goalie among the four who stood out during the event. He has solid size to go with above-average lateral movements. However his most appealing characteristic is he doesn't go into a super-technical "let the puck hit him" style, instead being very aggressive and playing at the top of his crease. He's been riddled with injuries, but his talent indicates that with the proper development, he has a chance to be effective as a pro.
Timo Meier, LW, Halifax-QMJHL
Meier has been a player trending up all season. Scouts I talked to months ago who were projecting him more into the third-round are all saying he's a top-30 guy right now. I'm not 100 percent there yet, but I see a very good case. He's big, skates well, has a lot of skill and plays well off the puck. He again was a notable contributor on the best line in the game as he was always involved in the offense.
Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon-WHL
Provorov had an excellent performance, showing his all-around game. He looked so calm and composed when the puck was in his end, making quick decisions and relieving pressure while maintaining possession. He got involved physically and was effective in transition. He's an advanced player with offensive upside who could go in the top 12 this season -- even with the Russian Factor, which I believe won't be a real issue for him. In talking to Provorov, he stated, "My dream has been to play in the NHL since I was 5 years old." He's been in North America for four years, and when I asked him how long it took him to adjust to the style of game he said: "About a week. I'm a North American-style player."
Nicolas Roy, C, Chicoutimi-QMJHL
Roy's season hasn't been ideal, as his production in the QMJHL has been below expectations. But at this game, at the least you got a taste of his ability. He's big, skates well for his size, is skilled, plays good defense, but the question I often ask is where-oh-where is the production? He's appealing to the eye, but for a scorer, you just want to see more scoring because he has the talent to take over a game. He doesn't impose himself on a game; he too often seems to just fade into the background.
Mitch Marner, C, London-OHL/Dylan Strome, C, Erie-OHL
The two potential top-5 to 7 picks did not have great games, often flashing their high-end skills but not connecting on their offensive plays. Marner was also erased too easily at times in one-on-one battles, which goes to his main weakness in his physical game. Some people will rewatch the tape of that game and think, "They forced plays, they were being too fancy, they need to just get pucks on net." On the other hand, though, nine out of 10 times they play like that, it turns into goals and multiple scoring chances.
Matt Spencer, D, Peterborough-OHL
Spencer's point totals haven't been gaudy this season, but watching him in this showcase game, you got a sense of what makes him appealing. He has pro size, he skates well and plays hard, and he has good defensive IQ. His puck plays were up and down, at some points he made some nice reads to evade pressure and start the puck movements; other times he was a little too deliberate and maybe lacked the pace for this level of competition.