Latest news with #J20
ITV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Liverpool commission permanent Diogo Jota tribute at Anfield
Liverpool Football Club has commissioned a sculpture to be made in honour of Diogo Jota outside Anfield after thousands of floral tributes to their No.20 were gradually removed in recent days. Portugal and Liverpool forward Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who played for Portuguese second division club Penafiel, died in a car crash on 3 July in the Spanish province of Zamora. Liverpool retired Jota's number 20 shirt in tribute, across all levels of the club, including LFC Women and the Academy. The planned sculpture will be made by recycling items left outside Anfield since his death by fans paying their respects. It will become a permanent memorial sculpture that will become a future focal point of remembrance at Anfield. Floral tributes are to be composted and used in flower beds across all club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre and AXA Melwood Training Centre. In the meantime, a temporary area of reflection has been created at Anfield so people can continue to pay their respects. Liverpool are planning a fan mosaic and a minute's silence at the opening Premier League home game against Bournemouth on 15 August. Fans can also pay tribute at the pre-season game against Atletico Bilbao on 4 August at Anfield, while players' shirts will have a "'Diogo J 20" patch for their two pre-season games in Asia. And the Reds players will wear a specially-designed patch with 'Diogo J 20' stitched on in memory of their team-mate across the two games in the Far East, starting with AC Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday evening (12.30pm UK time). A floral tribute will also be laid before kick-off at the pre-season games in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Anfield. The LFC Foundation has also committed to creating a grassroots football programme in the Jota's name. Meanwhile, the Football Association will hold talks with Liverpool before planning a tribute to Jota at the Community Shield at Wembley on 10 August. In addition, the club have said if supporters want to honour Jota by having "Diogo J 20" on the back of their shirts, then the profits of the purchases will go to the LFC Foundation, the club's charity.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
China's Two-Seat J-20 Stealth Fighter Poised To Enter Operational Service
A flurry of new images showing the two-seat variant of China's J-20 stealth fighter has emerged online. As well as providing new views of the two-seater, which also now wears a darker paint scheme, recent imagery published on Chinese social media reveals the progress being made in other fighter programs, including the J-35 family of carrier-based and land-based stealth fighters. It has been widely assumed that the appearance of the latest imagery of the J-20S is related to this version of the stealth jet having recently entered operational service or being poised to do so. At least one photo that emerged this month has been suggested as being an indication of operational service, with the J-20S aircraft in question wearing national insignia as well as five-digit serials associated with a frontline People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) unit, specifically the 172nd Air Brigade. While the J-20S was officially unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow last year, there are rumors that it might be publicly unveiled as an operational PLAAF asset in September of this year, when the service marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II. Rumors that a two-seat version of the J-20 was under development first emerged in early 2018, and the existence of the aircraft was confirmed beyond doubt by October 2021, when a prototype was noted undertaking high-speed taxi tests, as we reported at the time. To accommodate a second crewmember, the J-20's forward fuselage was redesigned. The aircraft also has enlarged tailfins and was powered from the start by locally developed WS-10C turbofan engines. With no equivalent two-seat stealth fighter in any Western inventory, the exact purpose of the J-20 has long been a source of debate. Some early assessments suggested it might be intended for electronic warfare, although this mission set is now very much the realm of the J-16D, a Chinese version of the Sukhoi Flanker multirole fighter. Of course, this could change in the future. Some kind of 'mini airborne command and control aircraft' was also a suggestion for the two-seat J-20S. More recent analysis suggests, which matches TWZ's original analysis, is that at least a significant portion of the stealth jet's mission might be in support of a growing fleet of PLAAF drones. This is a concept we have discussed in the past and which would essentially see the second crewmember control, to varying degrees, 'loyal wingman'-type drones that would accompany crewed J-20s and other aircraft into battle. In this way, the drones could fly deeper into hostile airspace, clearing a way through air defenses, for example, or otherwise supporting the crewed assets. The same concept is apparently already being explored by the PLAAF using modified J-16 fighters. The U.S. is moving full steam ahead with its own Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) loyal wingman drone plans, as well. So far one of the best Images of a PLAAF J-20S — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) July 8, 2025 Since the first flight of the J-20S prototype in November 2021, at least five other prototypes have appeared, the most recent emerging in March of this year. Presuming that the new J-20S imagery shows the jet in its definitive production form, then there are several features that are worthy of note. First, the nosecone has been reprofiled compared with earlier J-20S aircraft. This suggests that it now accommodates the same radar found in the J-20A, the improved single-seat version of the stealth jet. While unconfirmed, there are rumors that the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar in the J-20A could feature gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors. Compared with previous technology, GaN generates less heat and has the capacity to operate at higher voltages, meaning that output power can be increased, while component size can be reduced.威龙系列来源 @铁皮摄影师/wb — Húrin (@Hurin92) July 5, 2025 As well as an apparent new radar, the latest J-20S is fitted with an improved type of electro-optical system below the nose. Very similar to the F-35's Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), this news system offers 360-degree coverage, and may also be of the same variety as fitted in the single-seat J-20A. The J-20's original electro-optical system had a limited field of view and reduced capability set, which you can read about in this past piece of ours. The second picture shows the export – version EOTS – 86 exhibited by China in 2017. Because the military considered that the core of the J – 20 should be focused on air combat, this version of EOTS was abandoned. — Andong (@andong41739) July 6, 2025 Finally, the J-20S now wears a paint camouflage scheme, with most of the airframe painted in a dark-gray finish, close to black. This is absent from the leading and trailing edges of the control surfaces, the intake 'lips,' and the radome. While unconfirmed, this might indicate a new type of radar-absorbent coating to enhance the aircraft's low-observable characteristics. Taken together, these developments indicate that China has been refining the J-20S ahead of its operational service entry and before production ramps up, although it remains to be seen what kind of force mix is planned for the single- and two-seat J-20 versions, let alone the smaller J-35A. As for the J-35, some new imagery has also emerged of the carrier-based version of the jet. In particular, we now have a much better look at the arrester hook that's fitted on the navalized J-35 version, to allow it to make carrier landings. In a recent Chinese TV report, a J-35 can be seen in the back of a construction hall, still wearing primer, with the black-and-white hook extended. If I'm not mistaken then this is the first time we see the tail-hook. — @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) July 8, 2025 Meanwhile, recent imagery showing the J-35 in the air reveals the tidy low-observable housing for its arrester hook, which is entirely concealed between the engines when not deployed. This is a bit different arrangement to the F-35C's hook that has a shroud attached to it. While much attention has rightfully been placed on China's sixth-generation jets, two of which are now under test, for the PLAAF, the J-20 remains the most important tactical jet program, while the future of the J-35 is coming clearer into view. At the very least, these latest images reinforce just how central the J-20 remains when it comes to the service's burgeoning ambitions. Contact the author: thomas@
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China's J-20 stealth fighter's radar leap credited to semiconductors expert Xu Xiangang
China's J-20 stealth fighter has tripled its radar detection range, thanks to semiconductor advancements over the past two decades led by Shandong University scientist Xu Xiangang, according to the university. A silicon-carbide (SiC) semiconductor material developed by Xu's team had powered a threefold increase in the detection range of phased array radar systems, allowing Chinese radars to swiftly detect enemies and gain the first-mover advantage, the university said on its social media page. 'From the J-20's on-board systems to advanced weaponry, this 'Chinese chip' is crucial for national security,' the May 30 post said. 'It enhances the range of Chinese radars, improves missile accuracy and boosts the power of laser weapons, making it an indispensable 'hardcore shield' in defence technology.' The J-20, also known as the Mighty Dragon, is a twin-engine stealth fighter viewed as China's answer to America's F-22 'Raptor'. It officially entered active service in March 2017. Xu, who is dean of the university's Institute of Novel Semiconductors, said it was important for researchers to address the country's needs.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US and China struggle for dominance as officials meet for Shangri-La Dialogue
China does not want to go to war with anyone, especially the US. But Beijing does have aspirations to be the number one economic power in the world. And that means flexing its muscles to rid the seas around East and South East Asia of their US military presence, so it can dominate the shipping lanes so vital for global trade. By building up its nuclear and conventional arsenals, China aims to show the US that times have changed and that it's too dangerous a power to challenge. The US has long had the upper hand in the Asia-Pacific - with tens of thousands of troops based in Japan and South Korea, alongside several military bases. Trump's administration has clearly focused its energy on countering China - by initiating a trade war and seeking to strengthen alliances with Asian nations. The Shangri-La Dialogue has historically been the setting for top-level encounters between the US and China – an arena for the superpowers to set out their vision for security in the region. And it's opening again in Singapore on Friday. Here's what we can expect from the three-day event: The growing struggle for dominance between the US and China is undoubtedly the biggest issue in Asia-Pacific security. Gone are the days when China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) was characterised by outdated weaponry and rigid Maoist doctrine. Today it is a formidable force deploying state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles and fifth-generation warplanes like the J20. Its navy has the largest number of warships in the world, outstripping the United States. While China lags far behind the US and Russia in its number of nuclear warheads, it is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, with missiles that can travel up to 15,000km, putting the continental US easily within range. The US Navy's formidable 7th Fleet, based in Yokosuka, just south of Tokyo, can no longer claim to have guaranteed naval supremacy in the region. China's array of Dong Feng missiles and swarms of explosive drones would make any approach to its shores extremely hazardous for US warships. Ultimately, Beijing is believed to be working to "push" the US military out of the western Pacific. Taiwan is a liberal, self-governing, pro-Western island democracy that China's President Xi Jinping has vowed to "take back" by force if necessary. It has an economic importance well beyond its geographic small size. It manufactures more than 90% of the world's high-end microchips, the all-important semi-conductors that power so much of our tech. Recent opinion polls have made clear that a majority of Taiwanese people do not want to be ruled by Beijing, but Xi has made this a key policy aim. The US has done much to help Taiwan bolster its defences but the key question of whether Washington would go to war with China over Taiwan has always been shrouded in something called "strategic ambiguity", i.e. keeping Beijing guessing. On more than one occasion President Biden indicated the US would respond militarily in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. But the return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office has brought back a degree of uncertainty. There are also major concerns in the region over China's attempts to turn the entire South China Sea into what some have called a "Chinese lake". The PLA Navy has established military bases on reefs, many artificially dredged, across the strategically important South China Sea, an area through which an estimated $3 trillion's worth of maritime trade passes annually. Today China deploys a vast, industrial fishing fleet across the South China Sea, backed by its fleet of coastguard ships and warships. These vessels clash frequently with Filipino fishermen, fishing close to their own country's shores. China frequently challenges planes and ships transiting the South China Sea, warning them they are entering Chinese territory without permission, when the rest of the world considers this to be international waters. Donald Trump, when asked during his first presidency if North Korea could ever develop nuclear missiles that could reach the continental United States, vowed "it's never going to happen". But it has. In what amounts to a serious CIA intelligence failure, Pyongyang has demonstrated that it now possesses both the nuclear know-how and the means to deliver those warheads across the Pacific Ocean. Successive US presidencies have failed to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions and this isolated, economically backward yet militarily powerful nation is thought to have at least 20 nuclear warheads. It also has an enormous, well-armed army, some of which its autocratic leader Kim Jong Un has sent to help Russia fight Ukraine. Defence analysts are still dissecting the recent, brief but alarming conflict between these two nuclear-armed neighbours. India's military far outnumbers Pakistan's and yet the latter was allegedly able to land an embarrassing blow against India's air force, when Pakistan's Chinese-made J10-C jets went up against India's advanced, French-made Rafales. Pakistan reportedly shot down at least one of the Indian warplanes, using Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles. The reports were denied in India's media. China's assistance to Pakistan in the conflict has reportedly been critical to Islamabad, including repositioning its satellites to provide it with real-time intelligence. Both India and Pakistan are expected to make high-level addresses at the Shangri-La Dialogue this weekend while the US and others will be looking for ways to prevent a repeat of their clash over Kashmir. All of this is happening in a dramatically changed US context. Donald Trump's sudden imposition of trade tariffs, while eventually modified, has caused many in the region to rethink their reliance on Washington. Would an ally that is prepared to inflict so much economic pain on its friends really come to their aid if they were attacked? China has been quick to capitalise on the confusion. It reached out to neighbours such as Vietnam - a country it went to war with in 1979 - to point out the People's Republic represented stability and continuity in an unstable world. Under the previous US administration, Washington signed up to a multi-billion dollar trilateral partnership between the US, UK and Australia under the acronym of Aukus. It aims to not only build Canberra's next generation of submarines but to guarantee freedom of navigation across the South China Sea using intelligence and naval force deployed by the three nations. President Trump, when asked in February about his commitment to the AUKUS pact, appeared not to recognise the term, asking in reply: "What does that mean?" But early this Saturday morning the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, potentially offering some clarity on AUKUS as well as how the US plans to work with, and quite possibly against, China's interests across the Asia-Pacific region. Trump administration to 'aggressively' revoke visas of Chinese students Relief on China's factory floors as US tariffs put on hold Trump's chips strategy: The US will struggle to take on Asia China says it is ready for 'any type of war' with US
New York Times
29-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
2025 NHL Draft: 30 prospects who just missed the cut for Wheeler's final top 100
This week, we're rolling out my 2025 NHL Draft package at The Athletic in advance of my final top 100 draft board. On Monday, we released my ranking of the top 15 overagers in the class. Today, we release scouting reports for the 30 prospects who just missed the cut for my board. These prospects range from the final cuts at forward, defense and goalie for my board, who will be mid-to-late-round picks, to others who aren't even ranked by NHL Central Scouting but I have at least some time for/some interest in continuing to track. Advertisement Consider them my honorable mentions. Note: Players are sorted alphabetically. Annborn used to be considered a top prospect in this Swedish age group and was still a top-four D for the national team and a productive J20 defenseman who got his first SHL point (albeit with bottom-feeding HV71) this season. But whenever I've watched him, I've always come away thinking, 'He's just OK.' There's just a lot of mediocre, or average. Average size. Average feet. Average offense. Average defense. He's a fine player and solid two-way D at this level, but I just don't see a quality that will carry him or a clear identity/role up levels beyond becoming an average five-on-five two-way depth D in the SHL or AHL. He penalty kills against his peers, but I don't see him as a penalty killer up levels. He ran a power play in J20, but I don't see him doing that up levels. He's not physical. He's a fine young player whom I felt I should mention here, but it's just pretty bleh. Barnett, a Michigan commit, was one of my final cuts on D. He wore the 'C' at the NTDP this year and was a consistent top-four D on an NTDP blue line that struggled around him for the most part. He's an average-sized D with average tools, which limits his ultimate upside and has made me wonder if he's just a potential AHLer/solid two-way college D as an upperclassman. He's a decent skater who played to positive two-way results this year and makes the right plays, something some of his teammates struggled with. He seems to know who he is and how he needs to play, with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness over flash. He's got a good feel for his decision-making and a willingness to simplify when that's what's called for. While he's not dynamic and doesn't always take the right guy/make the right read defensively, he defends well and is a relied-upon player who can contribute in multiple ways at a good level. He'd be a late-round candidate for me. Advertisement Beauchesne is a Hockey Canada darling who wore a letter for them and played top-four defensive minutes for them at both U18 worlds and the Hlinka, has worn a letter and played more than 20 minutes per game for the Storm this year in the OHL. I haven't seen what they see in him, though. He's a strong athlete who is physically developed and is, by all accounts, an honest worker. He played to half a point per game on a low-scoring Guelph team despite missing time after his leg swelled up from a charley horse injury. He defends well in-zone and competes. But I find he struggles under pressure and turns over a lot of pucks, I find he gets beat more than he should in transition if he wants to become a defensive, complementary depth partner at the next level and I don't know if he can become that as a 6-foot D without NHL offense to chip in with. It's possible I've seen the wrong games, though, as he does have some believers. Bracco isn't ranked by NHL Central Scouting and has some flaws as a player that will make becoming a legit NHL prospect a challenge, but he's a thinker of the game who I think will show more in college than he did at the NTDP and I think he's worth at least following into college. Bracco is a player who sees the game at an advanced level, navigating the ice with his smarts and anticipation. He's a natural handler, skater and passer of the puck with great edges and comfort level atop the offensive zone. His head is always up, he knows where to place pucks and he executes the plays he sees. He can open up and swing around the offensive zone to create movement. He learned to pick his spots offensively this season, but there were times when I wanted to see if he could really lean into an offensive identity more than he did. The game and the puck travel through him nicely. He's got good hands and feet and a comfort level on the puck to take pressure and then make plays into the space beyond it. He needs to get a lot stronger, which will help him defend better down low and get pucks through to the net harder, but he's a late-July birthday with some time to do that. There are some in U.S. hockey circles who think he sees the game at a very high level and have vouched for him to me and others who don't see a pro prospect at all. Chovan wore a letter and was a top-six center for Slovakia at this year's U18 worlds. He played his draft year in Finland with Tappara's junior team and wasn't particularly productive, but he has some pro tools and has played well for the national team. He's also a Sudbury import draft selection who I'd be interested to see come over here and play on the North American sheet/in the North American style, because I think it would suit him. Chovan is big, protects pucks well and can be relied upon to play a two-way game. He picks up his marks and supports play effectively. He's also got a nice shot that has some power behind it and I've seen him finish cleanly from mid-range pretty regularly in my viewings. He needs to continue to get stronger as he can get pushed off of pucks and he doesn't use his frame or impose himself physically like coaches will want him to but he's a smart player who is worth late-round consideration for me (he might go in the middle rounds, though). Dach was one of the most talented and productive players in the BCHL this season, registering 100 points in 62 combined regular-season and playoff games for Sherwood Park, leading the league in assists and getting named a First Team All-Star. He's a Penn State commit but will play his post-draft season with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL next year following the NCAA's eligibility changes. He's an undersized center by NHL standards and he's got a lot of work to do in the faceoff circle if he wants to continue to play the middle up levels, but he functions as a conduit for his teammates with his smarts, playmaking and sixth sense for spacing and timing as a distributor. He passes the puck at a high level, sees the play develop early, and understands how to slow the game down and distribute/pick apart coverage. He can run the flank on the power play. His skill level is legit in terms of his hands and touch. He's a good skater. I would have liked to see him score more and compete harder at times this season, though, and he's going to have to continue to produce up levels to have a shot. I do wonder if he tops out as an AHL top-sixer, but he's worth following and I'd consider him in the draft's later rounds. Dervin, a Penn State commit, spent the bulk of the last two seasons playing at SAC (where he was a top player in the prep school circuit) before making the move to the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs following the NCAA's eligibility change. With the Fronts, he registered just two goals and six points in 21 combined regular-season and playoff games from December to April, but they were a deep team that was trying to contend and he slotted in mostly as their fourth-line center. With SAC, there were stretches where he played hard and physical and really imposed himself, knowing he could go get pucks and dominate. But with Kingston, he often lacked intensity. He's got good size, he's a high-end skater, he's an impressive athlete (who I'm told will stand out at the combine), and he had some transition sequences this year where he drove down ice and really attacked the net. He's also got some elusiveness for a pro-sized player and can make plays one-on-one with D and goalies. But there were other games where he played on the perimeter too much with Kingston and blended in and lacked that quote-unquote 'urgency.' Those who've worked with him in Kingston and at SAC talk about his athleticism, good skills, vision, skating and hockey IQ. He just needs to get to the inside more consistently. Advertisement When I surveyed a couple of folks about him at the end of his season, one source felt he was a third-round pick and another wasn't sold. But with time and proper development, he's got the tools to be a player. I strongly considered ranking him in my top 100. Gavin is a fall 2006 birthday who was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam draft after top 2024 prospect Berkly Catton, was productive for his age in the two seasons prior to this one, but plays a low-pace game that disappointed this year both in Tri-City to start and after a trade to Brandon, resulting in him going from potential mid-rounder to start the year to not ranked by NHL Central Scouting at all. He lit it up in the prep school circuit, registered 54 points in 62 games in his rookie season two years ago, and played to a point per game as one of the top offensive players on Tri-City last season. Typically, players with that statistical profile are definite picks, but questions about Gavin's style of play and whether he has another level to find have followed him and, frankly, revealed themselves this year. He can drift to the perimeter. He's got some deception on the puck and does a good job holding onto it to wait for secondary options to open up, but slows the game down too much. He does a good job leading rushes through neutral ice and then identifying the trailer in transition. He's got good hands and an accurate shot from the slot. He makes a lot of slip plays under sticks. He reads coverage well. But there are also times when you'd like to see him drive play more, or take charge more. Gavin relies on his smarts and sense to make good reads and his understanding of how to play in the offensive zone is a strength, but questions about his pace/competitiveness do linger. I've watched a lot of Griffin with the Gens over the last two years and he came a long way with them over the course of both seasons, going from a player who struggled out of minor hockey to have much of any impact and flipped between center and the wing, to one who was a top-six center and power-play staple on one of the best teams in the CHL this year. He really elevated again in the OHL playoffs as well, registering 29 points in 21 games. He was even counted on in the playoffs to take key D-zone draws right into the OHL Championship series against London, too. By year's end, he'd registered 38 goals and 80 points in 83 combined regular-season and playoff games. Those are very respectable numbers on a team like that. He's got good skill in tight and carried a lot of pucks into the offensive zone for his lines this year, navigating through neutral ice and across the blue line. He's not afraid to play around the net as a smaller player and has great offensive instincts both on it and off it. He can play the flank and the bumper on the power play and plays the bumper role well because of how quickly he can make the next play. He's a good skater who plays on his toes. He sees the ice well and is noticeable on the puck. I thought he was noticeable at the OHL Top Prospects Game when measured against just his peers, too. He plays with jump and handles the puck at pace. I and others do wonder if he's just a really good junior player whose game might not translate in the pros, and that kept him off of my list, but his OHL playoffs nearly sold me enough and he didn't get pushed around as the games got heavier this year. I like him and he has really grown on me. He was one of my very last cuts at forward, and I strongly considered ranking him in the 90s. Guite won QMJHL Rookie of the Year as a 16-year-old and was a No. 2 pick in the league, but hit a huge wall this year and actually saw his production dip. He's a low-pace shooter who can finish plays. He needs the right kind of usage and linemates to be successful, though, because he's not a great skater, with knees that can knock and splay, though I think he's a little more competitive than he has gotten credit for in conversations I've had with folks (he still certainly also has a lot of work to do to round out his game) and he does have some big-game pedigree at a young age. He was a Quebec U18 AAA champion and Telus Cup MVP, the leading scorer on Canada White's gold medal-winning team at world under-17s, and a top producer at the Hlinka and for Chicoutimi last season. If you leave him open in the offensive zone, he can burn you. He has a multifaceted shot (one-timer, catch-and-release, in-motion, standing still, you name it). He has power-play skills and is a threat on his off wing on the flank. He's 6-foot-2. But he's too one-dimensional and should be a more impactful player than he is. He reminds me a little of Predators prospect Matthew Wood at the same age, but Wood managed to produce enough to remain a top prospect despite some obvious flaws, and Guite hasn't done that. The lack of progression this season was concerning enough for me to omit him from my list. If you're going to be an offensive guy, you have to produce. Advertisement One of the youngest players in the draft, Hayes wore a letter for Team USA at the Hlinka last August and then had a respectable year with Greyhounds, registering 51 points in 65 games and a plus-rating on a negative team. He doesn't have the dynamic skill you look for in a smaller player and it's hard to be a bottom-six checker/pest when you're under 6 feet, and that kept him off my board, but he's a player with real identity that I felt deserved a mention here. He plays hard, he plays in the fight, he finishes all of his checks, and he and Brady Martin had a really good thing going these last two years, both in terms of chemistry and style of play. He also plays with pace on and off the puck, has a nose for the net and likes to get his hands dirty. I think he probably becomes a bottom-six AHLer, but he's worth Round 6-7 consideration. Here's Soo general manager Kyle Raftis: 'He gets under the opponents' skin like crazy, he's got a great release, he just finds ways to score goals in the blue paint constantly, and he's got a ton of confidence and belief in his ability. He has been excellent and he's on the PK, power play and we've got a younger team and he wants the puck on his stick in key situations.' Hoch is a big, strong two-way forward who played center when he played at Czechia's U20 level or with their national team against his peers this year (against whom he was actually strong in the faceoff circle), but was a winger when he played at the pro level. He doesn't have a ton of natural offense in his game, especially for an October '06 who I would have liked to see produce more in junior by now, but he can penalty kill, he's got a legit shot (which I've seen him really lean into in my viewings and would like to see him use more) and he plays off his linemates well. I think he needs to develop more of an identity as well, because he's not a power forward, or a skill guy, or a checker. He is a solid all-around player, but he's a high-floor, low-ceiling type who I thought was more of a future AHLer than NHLer. Hood was a great story for the Giants this year, going from a sixth-round bantam draft selection who wasn't in the league as a 16-year-old to starting and playing to a winning record and .910 save percentage across 42 games as a 17-year-old. That play earned him his first invite from Hockey Canada as well (he served as their third-stringer at U18 worlds). He gave up a couple of six packs in the first round of the WHL playoffs, but Spokane did that to more than one team and he was the reason the Giants won Game 3 of that series. He was also excellent in the second half. Hood is a smart goalie with good size and decent athleticism/movement. He reads, tracks and anticipates the play well, seems to have a studious approach to the position, gets to his spots early, has patience on his outside edges and has good dexterity. I don't think he's the most purely gifted goalie, and he's still got some things to work but he stays square, is reliable and has tools to develop. He's the kind of goalie I'd target in the draft's later rounds once the true top goalie prospects are gone. Katzin was a star in the GTHL coming up and has been a very good junior player in Guelph in the OHL, in Green Bay in the USHL before that, and most recently with Canada at U18 worlds, where he was both very productive and very effective. Whenever I've watched him play over the last couple of years, he has played well and made an impact on games. He has skill, plays a likable style, works and has proven he can play both center and the wing against his peers and still play the same consistent shift-to-shift game. He's strong for his size, too. But even though I like him, and even though coaches and scouts also respect his game, it's hard to climb up levels at his size unless you put up huge numbers or have a defining skill/trait. He's got good hands and first touch. He sees it well. He's got a quick shot. He's a good skater. He'll win inside body positioning. He stays around it and plays between the dots. He's a tough 5-8 and a good player. I think he'll be a good college player at Penn State, too. But he's probably a late-round pick or someone you follow in college. Karmiris didn't produce enough as one of the older first-year eligibles in the draft to make his way onto my list but I've liked watching him and I think he and Jacob Kvasnicka, who was the last player ranked on my board and is almost a year younger, have some similarities as competitive 5-11 forwards who work hard, play with pace and involve themselves in the action at the junior level without having a dynamic trait. Karmiris is a good junior player who can touch a lot of what happens in a game. He was a driver for the Steelheads on his lines at five-on-five when healthy this season (the injury bug hit him a couple of times, including an injury to his face in the fall), penalty killed for them and contributed on their second power play. He can skate pucks through neutral ice, track and forecheck inside the offensive zone and work to get pucks. He's got decent skill and keeps his feet moving. He might just be what he is, but I like him as a player and have enjoyed watching him. Kilfoil is a smart, committed three-zone forward who had 24 goals and 51 points in 73 combined regular-season and playoff games with the Mooseheads this season, both of which led the team in scoring, believe it or not. He also wore a letter for them and was a bottom-sixer and penalty killer for Hockey Canada at U18 worlds and the Hlinka. He's a decent skater, he makes quick decisions and plays a heady game. He's not a particularly physical player, but he works to get pucks back. He sees the ice well and can anticipate play offensively and defensively. He'll hustle and win races and inside body positioning. He consistently finds his teammates through traffic and on the back side of coverage, and also goes there for them. I think he has more offense than his numbers indicate. I considered ranking him at the back of my top 100 and expect he'll be a mid-to-late-round pick. Advertisement Kotajarvi has been an above-average player on a well below average '07 Finnish national team, played a dozen games with one of Liiga's top clubs this year and played to half a point per game at Finland's junior level. He's a 5-11/6-foot left-shot D with average tools, though, and that kept him off my list. He's a decently smart, decently competitive defenseman with a decent shot and a bit of an offensive tilt. He can move pucks and he defends at a reasonable level. He's a decent player. He's also a summer birthday. I think he has shown enough to make himself a candidate at the back of the draft, but he has never really grabbed me, and I'm not sure what his role/next level looks like. Klippenstein is a November '06 who has established himself in the WHL as a worker who plays a physical, competitive, honest, what-you-see-is-what-you-get game. He wasn't nearly productive enough/didn't show nearly enough offense for me to slot him given his age, and it's very hard for players who play checking roles in junior (he played 10-15 minutes per game for Brandon) to rise to checking roles in the NHL. And while he's listed as a center, he also played a lot of wing this year. He's got some believers as a potential fourth-liner because of his combination of compete, size, strength, physicality and skating (he can really get going down hill in straight lines), but he finished 11th on his junior team in scoring this year as an older draft eligible and from what I've seen he's got some limitations in terms of hockey IQ and puck play. The team that picks him will be betting on his clear identity — and that he's got development in front of him, despite the birthday. Another highlight for the Carter Klippenstein collection!@bdnwheatkings | #NHLDraft — Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 23, 2025 Misiak scored five professional goals in Slovakia's top flight in the fall, spent the winter playing for a top team in the USHL and then left the Black Hawks (who went on to the Clark Cup) to play for Slovakia at U18 worlds. He plays a driven, middle lane game with decent skill and a nose for the net. He's not a natural individual creator or playmaker, but he makes plays for his linemates, plays hard and has some secondary skill. In my viewings, he has worked to involve himself in the action and keep his feet moving. I think he's got the ability to slow it down as well and has more offense than his good but not great numbers with Waterloo and the national team indicate. Consistency has been a bit of an issue at times in some of my viewings (as it is for his older brother Martin Misiak, a Blackhawks prospect, though I think Alex plays a more conducive style) but I've seen him finish checks and don't have the issues with work ethic that I had with Martin with Alex. He's less talented, though. Alex would be a late-round flier option for me, but that's about it. Morin is a Boston University commit who was a minor hockey star in Quebec and Michigan but really had a tough time with discipline and consistency in the USHL with Youngstown, resulting in a move to the Sea Dogs in the Q (where he made some progress but still showed some selfish tendencies). There's a camp of people who don't think he plays winning hockey or has the mental makeup to become an NHLer and find he plays hero hockey too much. He is a 6-foot-1/2 forward with some legit tools, though, and that keeps him relevant. I wonder about his hockey IQ and have often thought he has a bit of an identity crisis (does he think he's a skilled player, or a pest, just always frustrated and forcing both?) and immaturity to his game, though. He made some really nice skill plays beating or shaking defenders one-on-one inside the offensive zone after the move to the Sea Dogs this year and he shows you those flashes at his size and it piques your interest. When he's feeling himself and confident, he's dangerous. I've seen him drive down ice and push his way to the net, and make skill plays in bunches. He's a good athlete. But there are also games of his that I watched and found his play selection frustrating, felt he was forcing it, and he rendered himself quite ineffective (all common criticisms). I could see him pop next year and put it all together without the pressure of the draft, but there's also risk he remains a mercurial, what-could-have-been prospect who doesn't have the interest or willingness to change his style of play. The son of legendary goaltender Manon Rheaume, Rheaume-Mullen is a late-2006 who, after two years at the NTDP, played college hockey with the Wolverines in his draft year. He played third-pairing minutes at Michigan but played his role effectively — if a little lackluster at times. He's a good skater with projectable four-way mobility. He handles pressure well. His head and eyes stay up and his reads seem to be in a good place. But whenever I've watched him over the last three seasons, I've felt he had more smarts and offense and that just hasn't come due to both roles at the NTDP and Michigan, but also his play. He played behind Cole Hutson and Logan Hensler for offensive opportunities at the program and behind EJ Emery and Will Skahan in terms of his role defensively, and that carried over into Michigan, where his role and game feel like it's caught up in no man's land a little. I could see him take a step at a program like Michigan as a junior or senior and become an involved, puck-possession two-way D. But he looks more like he's on a path to becoming more of an AHLer/ECHLer after that at the moment. Rozsival played the majority of this year at Czechia's junior level and was a top player and a real threat, but didn't light it up. He was also a good player for the Czech national team at U18 worlds and the Hlinka, but didn't light it up in either of those, either (four points in 10 games between the two). He's a summer birthday, though, and he does look like a pro-style player. He wins inside body positioning. He's strong over pucks and in battles. He'll drive and go to the net. He plays on his toes and plays a North American style. And he does have some smarts and know-how. He's a decent player in his age group and should have a long pro career, but that career may just be in Europe or the AHL. Schafer caught my eye at both the World Juniors and the U18 worlds. After the latter, I decided to sit down and watch some of his tape in Germany this year, where he dominated the junior level and played more than 30 games in limited minutes in the DEL. His NHL Central Scouting ranking (102nd among European skaters) suggests he's a fringe prospect to get drafted, but I'd strongly consider him in the draft's latter rounds based on what I've seen. Schafer is big and he can skate and shoot it. He gets the first touch on loose pucks. He wins 50/50s and then picks up the next play quickly. He's not a physical player for his size, but he'll work smartly and he's got some of the other tools you look for in terms of the size, the skating, the shot and some of the game sense and feel. Advertisement Sjostrom's not ranked by NHL Central Scouting and might not get picked, but he has been a top-four D for this Swedish age group internationally and has been productive at the J20 level for his age in each of the last two seasons. He's undersized, though, and while he has offense, skating and puck-moving ability, none of it's dynamic, take-over-a-game talent. I do like him defensively as well, though. He has been a go-to penalty killer on his teams. He's got a good stick. He's got balanced skating posture going backward and gaps up well (though I do think there are times when he could close earlier and he waits for carriers to come to him head-on). His profile makes him a long shot, but I wanted to at least mention him here. Straka is a July birthday who still played for Slovakia at the last two U18 worlds. I liked him enough in each to spend some time on him as an import with the Remparts this year as well and while his production is vanilla (34 poitns in 53 games) at a glance, that team struggled to score this year and he was a pretty consistent contributor for them who played to mostly positive results relative to his teammates. He tracks. He arrives on time and gets open effectively. He's strong and can drive (though I'd like to see him finish more). He protects the puck well and can hold it and find guys off the cycle inside the offensive zone. He makes smart little plays on bump passes or little slips. I think he deserves Round 6-7 consideration and could see him take a step next year. The Petes were one of the toughest teams to watch in major junior hockey for much of this year and that made evaluating their prospects its own challenge as well. Their leading scorer finished the year with 37 points. Taylor was their second-leading goal scorer with 15 and finished third on the team in points with 31 in 68 games. I've listed him here because he's got a legitimate NHL-level shot/release and sometimes having that one tool, when you've also got a pro frame to build upon, is enough to make you worthwhile as a late-round pick. He was a big-time scorer in minor hockey, a ninth-overall pick into the O, and I and some around the province wouldn't be surprised if he scores 30-40 goals as a north-south shooter next year. He'll work and finish his checks and seems capable of playing the style a team would want him to play as well. His game's still unrefined in some ways, but late in the draft, sometimes you're just looking for a prospect you can mold and work with. WHAT A SHOT BY CADEN TAYLOR💣#NHLDraft eligible Caden Taylor rips one up high to give @PetesOHLhockey an early lead on the road!🚨🚗#OHL | @CHLHockey — Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 23, 2025 Vass is a pro-size D who plays a highly physical, hard, stand-up defensive style. He hits hard, defends the rush firmly and loves to engage in battles (sometimes a little over-zealously). Despite his physical tilt, he also has a good stick. He plays more on instinct and timing than poise and calm, but he knows who he is and has a clear identity already as a young player. He's never going to have a ton of offense, but he skates well enough to potentially project as a hard-to-play-against depth D option. He was one of the last defenders cut from my list. I'm very unsure about Vilchinsky, a hulking, heavyset, 240-something pound late-September 2006 who played his third season in the MHL with SKA this year. I wonder about his fitness. I think his mobility and skating are a concern and that he'll struggle at KHL pace without some real progress on and off the ice. He moves fine and certainly, his defensive results have been strong on a good team, but I don't think he reads the game particularly well on or off the puck and his puck play itself is pretty bare bones. I understand the appeal of him and why a team would want to work with him and consider late in the draft, and it's notable that he's had defensive success over an extended period in the MHL at an early age, but a lot of work would have to happen for him to realize his potential. Westergard has been one of the Finnish U18 team's top forwards with his age group, but it's the weakest group I can remember the country producing and he's a 5-10 forward without high-end skill. He was also above a point per game with Frolunda's J20 team and gets credit for his ability to be a driver or a complementary piece who can play with skilled players and play with intensity and energy. He's not a dynamic skill type and that comes with some questions about a below-average-sized player, but he's also a September 2007 who was nearly eligible for the 2026 class, could still grow and does a lot of things well. His best attribute is his ability to find soft space around the net/slot, routinely getting open for his linemates for tap-ins. He's got a great know-how on the ice and has shown an ability to make an impact both with top players with Frolunda or as more of a go-to guy with a Finnish national team that lacks that. He's also a fast skater who uses that speed to complement his timing. I'd consider him in Rounds 6-7, probably, but I just don't know if he has a projection beyond a good SHL player and that kept him off my list. Zubek is a big, heavy D who has been the most productive defenseman in Slovakia's junior level over the last two seasons but also has some flaws as a player that made him the national team's No. 7 defenseman at U18 worlds (though he was moved up to the first pairing with Luka Radivojevic for the bronze medal game). He plays hard, has size and is a volume shooter inside the offensive zone who puts a lot of pucks on net and can hammer it. But despite his production, he's a little slow-moving out there and he's not particularly creative, playing more on instinct and the first play he sees. I'm not sure what to make of him, but I think he's worth tracking, and I'd be very interested to see him get picked in the CHL Import Draft and come play in junior over here as more of a test for his toolkit. (Photos of Quinn Beauchesne and Owen Griffin: Natalie Shaver / OHL Images and Goodall Media)
