New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 12/1/20

Welcome to the 8th week of the 2020-21 New Jersey Devils prospect update! This week’s action featured Yegor Sharangovich and Alexander Holtz scoring goals for fun in Europe, Canada’s WJC camp go into quarantine, Patrick Moynihan make the preliminary US roster for the WJC, and Mikhail Maltsev completing his loan at SKA St. Petersburg. Let’s take a look at how each prospect performed over the past week.

QMJHL

Dawson Mercer spent the past week in quarantine after two players in Canada’s WJC camp tested positive for COVID-19. Here is the Hockey Canada statement from Wednesday that announced that their camp would undergo a 2 week quarantine:

“Following the confirmation of two positive tests among players at Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp on Monday, Hockey Canada has confirmed that all players, coaches and staff are considered close contacts and are therefore subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period under Alberta Health Services’ Order 05-2020. Hockey Canada will continue to abide by all protocols and guidelines set forth by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, as it is not exempt from Order 05-2020, and will put a pause on all camp activities until the quarantine period is complete.”

OHL

Graeme Clarke also spent last week in quarantine as a member of Canada’s WJC camp.

NCAA

Matt Hellickson was a +1 with 2 shots as Notre Dame beat Michigan twice last weekend. You can see him in action, perhaps against Cole Brady, when Notre Dame takes on Arizona State on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET on the NHL Network and on Friday at 7:00 PM ET on NBCSN.

Aarne Talvitie was a -3 with 4 PIM, 2 shots, and won 14/21 faceoffs as Penn State lost to Wisconsin last Tuesday. He continues to center the top line and play on both the PP and PK for a struggling Penn State team that is now 0-4. You can see him in action when Penn State takes on Michigan on Wedeneday at 6:00 PM ET on ESPNU.

Tyce Thompson and Patrick Moynihan are set to get their season underway on 12/19 when Providence takes on UMass. They’ve already seen their first 3 games postponed (11/28 at UMass-Lowell, 12/4 and 12/5 at Northeastern). Yesterday, Moynihan was named to the preliminary roster for the US ahead of the WJC. I think he’s likely to make it considering the various roles he can play for the team.

Case McCarthy didn’t make the preliminary roster for the US WJC team. He’ll look to start his season on 12/11 when Boston University takes on UMass.

Artem Shlaine and UConn had their games against Maine postponed last week. They are scheduled to play next on 12/11 against Boston College.

Cole Brady picked up the first win of his collegiate career when he made 33 saves on 38 shots in a wild 8-5 Arizona State victory over Wisconsin. Check out this nice save he made in a 2v1 situation:

USHL

Ethan Edwards and Akira Schmid were sidelined last week as Sioux City had both of their games postponed due to the pandemic. They are scheduled to play next on 12/5 against Omaha.

Russia

KHL

VHL & MHL

Yegor Zaitsev was a -1 with 2 PIM and 3 shots while averaging 15:53 per game across 3 KHL games last week.

Daniil Misyul had an even rating, 2 PIM, and 4 shots while averaging 10:11 per game across 3 KHL games last week. The opening game of the week saw him play just 3:56 against Dinamo Minsk but then he played 12:16 and 14:23 in the other games against Dynamo Moscow and Dinamo Minsk respectively. That snapped a 17 game streak where he played less than 10 minutes per game.

Arseni Gritsyuk was called back up to the KHL but played just 3 minutes against Amur Khabarovsk on Thursday. He had an even rating and a shot in that game and wasn’t in the line up for Sunday’s game against Kunlun Red Star.

Nikita Popugayev had an assist, even rating, and 4 PIM while averaging 10:42 across 2 KHL games last week.

Shakir Mukhamadullin was a +1 with 3 shots while averaging 15:18 across 2 KHL games last week. He didn’t play in yesterday’s game against Avtomobilist Ekaterinburg.

Yegor Sharangovich had 3 goals, an assist, +5, 12 shots, and won 40% of his faceoffs while averaging 21:45 across 3 KHL games last week. His 15 goals now ranks 5th in the KHL (he has the same as 4th place Lukas Radil but has played 3 more games). You can see his 3 latest goals below which includes a game winning goal in OT, a rebound goal, and a wraparound goal:

Mikhail Maltsev’s loan stint with SKA St. Petersburg has come to an end. He mainly practiced with the team to stay sharp ahead of training camp with the Devils but did manage to get into 4 games and record an assist around early October.

Finland

Liiga

Eetu Pakkila was a -1 while averaging 10:59 across 2 games last week. On Thursday he signed a contract extension with Ilves that takes him through the 2023-24 season. The Devils hold his rights until June 1, 2022 and I would expect them to sign him by that deadline as long as he continues to develop. This new contract won’t prevent him from coming over to North America early.

Nick Merkley was a +1 with a shot in 10:09 in his only game action last week. It appears that he is now injured and out “week to week.” His loan is scheduled to run until mid-December so it’s possible he may have played his last game for Assat.

Janne Kuokkanen had an assist, -1, 2 PIM, and 4 shots while averaging 12:46 across 2 games last week.

Sweden

SHL & Allsvenskan

Nikola Pasic had an even rating and 4 shots in 15:30 in his only game last week.

Alexander Holtz had 2 goals (1 EV, 1 PP), -1, and 5 shots while averaging 13:42 across 2 games last week. He currently leads all U20 players in the SHL with 13 points and a 0.81 Pts/GP rate. Check out his latest goals below:

Fabian Zetterlund had a PP goal, an assist, -2, 4 PIM, and 9 shots while averaging 12:23 across 2 games last week.

The Rest of Europe

Swiss National League, Slovak Extraliga, Czech 1.liga, Deutsche Eishockey Liga

Benjamin Baumgartner had an assist, -2, 2 PIM, 2 shots, and won 4/8 faceoffs while playing 16:10 in his only game last week. It was the first game in two weeks that his team played due to the pandemic.

Marian Studenic had an even rating and 4 shots while averaging 16:30 across 2 games last week.

Jaromir Pytlik is on loan at HC Stadion Litomerice in the Czech 1.liga, which is the 2nd highest level of professional hockey in the Czech Republic, after the Extraliga. Last week he was a -1 with 4 shots, and won 61.9% of his faceoffs while averaging 14:20 per game. He’s been playing in all situations through 4 games, averaging 15:10 in total ice time per game with a PP average of 2:45 and PK average of 1:33. Hopefully this prepares him well for the WJC and OHL season.

Nico Daws and ERC Ingolstadt are set to open their season on 12/20 against the Schwenninger Wild Wings. It appears the regular season will run until 3/18/21.

Your Take

Which prospects stood out to you this past week? How have your expectations for Yegor Sharangovich changed? What about the season Alexander Holtz is putting together? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!