Value can definitely be found in the late rounds. There are a handful of such players who I find particularly interesting this season for various reasons, and I would view them all as good options in the later rounds of the draft. None of them makes my top-80 rankings, but each player offers some potential for teams seeking late value.
Here's 20 of the more intriguing late-round prospects in this year's draft class.
Nos. 1-20 | Nos. 21-40 | Nos. 41-60 | Nos. 61-80
Top 80 | Top goalies
Tyler Madden, C, Tri-City (USHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 152
50 GP | 15 G | 19 A
Madden popped on my radar more after seeing the USHL Top Prospects game. I started watching him more closely and saw a player who creates well. He has the ability to make more time for himself in a league that is notorious for making it awfully hard to find time and space. The son of former Selke Trophy winner John Madden, Tyler is pretty much all offense, as he's not a very big guy. He'll have to dedicate himself to getting stronger, but the tools are there to give him a chance of reaching the next level. He is slated to play at Northeastern University, which has been a haven for offensively gifted players in recent years.
Milos Roman, C, Vancouver (WHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 188
39 GP | 10 G | 22 A
Roman has been one of the top players in his age group in a Slovakia program that has been struggling a little bit. After a few years playing in the Czech league, he decided to come to the WHL this season, and I thought we might see his game open up a bit more. But he lost a good chunk of his season to injury and didn't really have a chance to stand out consistently at the World Juniors, with Slovakia often overmatched. That said, there's a body of work that shows he has some solid playmaking skills, and while his hand skills are probably average among players in this particular draft, he has enough offensive talent to take a midround stab. There are just a lot of questions about what he ultimately will be after this up-and-down year.
Matej Blumel, LW, Waterloo (USHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 179
50 GP | 8 G | 10 A
Blumel is an especially tricky player to rank this year, but I had enough live and video viewings of him to comfortably slot him as one of my draft favorites despite the fact he doesn't produce much in the USHL. When playing with the Czech Republic internationally, he was a top offensive performer thanks to good speed and an ability to put himself in good positions. He also is extremely aggressive and energetic, with one of his coaches terming him a "bull in a china shop" on the ice. Waterloo had more veterans and provided less of an opportunity for Blumel to be put in positions to produce. Based on his U18 international duty, though, he should get more of a chance next season as he is expected back in the USHL.
Filip Kral, D, Spokane (WHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 171
54 GP | 9 G | 26 A
A bit of a raw defensive prospect, Kral made an adjustment to North American hockey after leaving his native Czech Republic to join Spokane early in the season. He has limited offensive upside, but he produced at a decent rate with the Chiefs. He has decent size with room to grow, and he defends well enough now.
Filip Johansson, D, Leksand Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 174
29 GP | 4 G | 5 A
An advanced defender for such a young player, Johansson is a very good skater with good lateral movement. His offensive capabilities are limited at this point, but he has shown a few flashes here and there, suggesting that he has more to give in that regard. He's just a smart player who I think has a chance to crack a lineup down the line as a No. 5 or 6 blueliner.
Nico Gross, D, Oshawa (OHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 183
58 GP | 4 G | 10 A
Gross has been one of the more highly regarded players in Switzerland's system over the past few years. He has played in three U18 World Championships, with the first coming when he was 15. He has good size and solid defensive skills, playing just physically enough while using a good stick to be tougher to beat. While his defensive skills are above average, his offense has not materialized. I think he can pass well, but there's no dynamic offensive element to his game. As a result, I would not be surprised to see him slip into the later midrounds.
Nathan Smith, C, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
Age: 19 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 174
51 GP | 17 G | 30 A
Scouts who have spent time in the USHL have pointed out Smith to me, and I had been watching him with Cedar Rapids being a frequent USHL stop for me, as well. He has exceptional vision, which helps him make his linemates more effective. Smith is second-year eligible after being kind of hidden in Florida, where he played for his high school and had a brief stint in the North American League. To go from that to 0.92 points per game in the USHL is extremely impressive. He is headed to Minnesota State Mankato next season.
Adam Samuelsson, D, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 240
54 GP | 4 G | 20 A
Samuelsson has some nice tools, not the least of which being his massive frame. He lacks the nastiness of dear old dad, Ulf Samuelsson, but he has a knack for getting pucks up ice. Samuelsson is an adequate defender with good awareness in the defensive zone. The biggest thing holding him back at this point is his skating, which is below average. Otherwise, he can move the puck well enough and has the physical tools to be an everyday NHLer. His feet and mind just have to catch up.
Egor Sokolov, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 223
64 GP | 21 G | 21 A
Sokolov has advanced offensive tools, including a heavy shot and good sense in the offensive zone. He's not a great skater, though, which makes me wonder if he can keep pace at the next level. Sokolov is still a top-half option for me because I think his offensive tools and size give him something to work with. The skating can be improved, but being a bigger guy with good hands can still give you a shot to excel.
Tyler Weiss, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 158
50 GP | 10 G | 17 A
A quick, smaller forward who has a lot of creativity, Weiss is a bit of a wild card in the draft because of his size. He weighed in at 150 pounds at the NHL combine and physically looked like the youngest player there. That said, because of his quickness and an ability to create, there is still some upside there. He is headed to the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he should have a chance to play a fairly substantial role early. Consistency also is a big thing with Weiss. If he does manage to tack on weight and play at the top of his game, he has a chance to make something of himself. The skill and speed is there already.
Alec Regula, D, London (OHL)
Age: 17 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 201
67 GP | 7 G | 18 A
I spoke to one scout who thought Regula might be one of the best defenders in the draft, and while I disagree a bit, he definitely excels defensively. He also showed some improved abilities with the puck, though I don't think he's going to be much of a producer at the next level. He's confident in his abilities and can be tough to beat one-on-one. He has some edge to his game, and if he continues to build strength, he has a chance to be the kind of guy teams have to be aware of when he's on the ice. The lack of offensive upside has him lower for me, though.
Albin Eriksson, RW, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Age: 17 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 207
38 GP | 22 G | 18 A
Eriksson's size is the first thing that jumps out. Big and powerful, he has the physical frame to protect the puck. His skating is suspect, which is why he hasn't caught more attention, though. He also wasn't a real standout at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the summer. He's a young player for the draft year with a July birthday and has plenty to work on. That said, he had a strong year in Sweden's junior league with 22 goals in 38 games, which was tops among U18 players in the league. He played some games in the pro ranks but only averaged around 3:27 minutes per contest. Eriksson has plenty of time to develop, but he already has the frame to be a pro. I would expect bigger things from him in the next two to three years. Because there are players who are a bit more skilled overall than he is, I couldn't find a spot for him in my top 80, but I like him as a prospect.
Jake Pivonka, C, USA U18 (NTDP)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 198
51 GP | 8 G | 10 A
Two years ago, Pivonka was one of the top players in his age group, playing a starring role for Team USA at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, as the Americans won gold. In the years since, Pivonka's offensive skill didn't translate as much as he progressed to the National Team Development Program. That said, he modified his game and became an excellent two-way center. His offensive game isn't at a high-end level, but his defensive capabilities, physical game and hockey sense are all there. The son of former NHL player Michal Pivonka, he is going to be a reliable low-lineup player. I think he'll probably be a more comfortable pick for teams in the second half of the draft, but he's smart enough that I'd like to see what he can do if given more time to develop and round out his game a bit more.
Curtis Douglas, C, Windsor (OHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-8 | Wt: 234
66 GP | 22 G | 24 A
I mean, there just aren't a ton of nearly 6-foot-9 centers who come around very often. The skating is a pretty large concern for Douglas, and ultimately that might be his downfall as a prospect. He does have really soft hands for a big guy and can actually make plays. He had 22 goals in the OHL this season. Even at his size, I think he's a long shot, but I would consider using a late pick on him to see what the team can do with him developmentally. There's a lot of refining that needs to happen.
Vladislav Kotkov, LW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Age: 18 | Shoot: R | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 206
61 GP | 21 G | 28 A
A big-bodied forward with good hands, Kotkov's skating is a big reason why he's not in my top 80. His ability to combine power with skill, however, is intriguing enough for me to see him comfortably as a top-half-of-the-draft-kind of prospect. His production was only OK in the QMJHL, but I'm willing to give a little benefit of the doubt for players playing in their first season in North America. It can be a harder adjustment for some than others.
Austin Wong, C, Okotoks (AJHL)
Age: 17 | Shoot: R | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 189
55 GP | 25 G | 29 A
Wong was one of my favorite live viewings of the year. I saw him at the CJHL prospects game in January, and it was one of the best efforts I've seen in one of those prospect games. Wong hit everything that moved, playing with tremendous speed and forcing everyone to know he was on the ice. He is one of the younger players in this draft class and is not a big guy by any means, but he managed to produce nearly a point per game in the AJHL while playing a very tough brand of hockey. A team is going to take him, probably very late, and he's going to go all out to prove them right for doing so.
David Hrenak, G, St. Cloud State (NCHC)
Age: 20 | Catch: L | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 192
25 GP | 2.11 GAA | 0.919 SV % | 3 SO
Hrenak didn't make it onto my goalie list, but I wanted to make mention of him here because I think he's worthy of a late-round pick. If the second-year eligible isn't picked this time around, some team is just going to end up overpaying for him as an NCAA free agent down the line. He had a .919 save percentage in 25 games for a very, very good St. Cloud State team this season. That's coming on the heels of a strong showing in 2016-17 in the USHL, as well. Hrenak is an average-sized but very confident goaltender who can make the big save, yet he plays the position with poise. I watched St. Cloud on video quite a bit this season and I thought Hrenak kept things awfully quiet for them when he was between the pipes.
Patrick Khodorenko, C, Michigan State (Big Ten)
Age: 19 | Shoot: L | Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 206
36 GP | 13 G | 19 A
After going unselected following his freshman season at Michigan State, Khodorenko showed vast improvement as a sophomore. It was the first year he really broke out from a production standpoint. Khodorenko is physically strong and plays a heavy game, but he also showcased a bit more skill this season. I agree with scouts I've talked to who say he needs to improve his quickness, but I could see him landing as a bottom-line energy guy. A team should plan on picking him late now as opposed to trying to sign him as a UFA later. Getting him into the development system would be a big help to both him and the team that picks him.
Lukas Wernblom, C, Modo Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
Age: 17 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-9 | Wt: 165
20 GP | 5 G | 13 A
An undersized forward who plays like he's 6-foot-5, Wernblom has no fear. He gets physical and has the tenacity to get under an opponent's skin. He also has a pretty solid skill level that allowed him to produce at a high level in the Swedish junior ranks and to also earn some time at the pro level. He didn't produce much as a pro, but he still played his aggressive game that makes him the kind of player that teams tend to like. His size will make it hard for him to play that way in North America, but I still think you've got to give a kid who brings the kind of energy Wernblom does to every shift he plays a chance.
Demetrios Koumontzis, LW, Edina (HS)
Age: 18 | Shoot: L | Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 183
24 GP | 20 G | 21 A
One of the unsung high school prospects this season, Koumontzis has been described as an ultra-competitor by those who have spent a good amount of time in the Minnesota High School rinks. He also has skill to go with that tenacity, which helps because he's not the biggest guy. Koumontzis missed much of the previous season with a significant injury, which didn't help him too much. However, he was a major producer at both Edina High School and in the Minnesota Elite League. You always have to be especially careful with high school prospects, but I know scouts are big on his character, which makes me much more comfortable giving him a look in the last few rounds. He is headed to Arizona State University next season.