• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Tuesday was a slow day for draft-prospect action. Only three players made the top-performances list below.
With the NHL's trade deadline fast approaching, expect to see a lot of 2018 draft picks changing hands. That activity began this week. On Monday, Chicago picked up Washington's third-rounder, and Detroit took a fourth-rounder from Philadelphia. On Tuesday, the Rangers dealt for Boston's third-rounder.
Which team has the most picks for June? That would be the Red Wings with 10. The Flyers and Maple Leafs are right behind them with nine. If Detroit retains all of its picks, expect the Wings to get a huge haul of talent from this deep draft. The Wings have a history of great drafting with picks in later rounds, so this is a pivotal moment in their franchise history.
So, Detroit fans, you might want your team to continue dropping in the standings for a shot at Rasmus Dahlin as well as the chance to pick earlier in each subsequent round. In the meantime, you might spot a future Red Wing in this list of Tuesday's best:
GRIGORI DENISENKO -- Denisenko starred at the recent Under-18 Five Nations tournament, but he's back in Russia now, putting up points in the MHL. On Tuesday, he had a goal and an assist in Yaroslavl's 4-0 win at Moscow Soviet Wings. After picking up the primary assist on the 3-0 goal at 16:02 of the third period, Denisenko came back 59 seconds later to close the scoring with his team's fourth goal. He now has nine goals and 22 points in 38 games, including a three-game point streak. Tuesday marked his first MHL appearance since Jan. 19. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
SAMUEL HOUDE -- Last season,Houde scored two goals and seven points in 41 games. He has played another 41 games already in 2017-18, and he now has 14 goals and 22 points. Now that's improvement. On Tuesday, he notched a pair of late goals in Chicoutimi's 4-3 OT win over Shawinigan to claim No. 3 star honors. His first goal, on a power-play at 11:18 of the third period, snapped a 2-2 tie. His second goal was the game-winner just 44 seconds into overtime. The surging center has scored seven goals in his last eight games, including a hat trick. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JACKSON LEPPARD -- Leppard, a 6-foot-2 left wing, has great NHL size and will likely be drafted on that basis alone. But this former first-round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft can also score, as he showed on Tuesday in Prince George's 6-5 loss at Kelowna. Leppard tallied a power-play goal at 10:13 of the opening period to cut the Rockets' early lead to 3-1. Later in the period, Leppard had the primary assist on a goal that made it a 4-2 game at 14:45. Tuesday's effort marked Leppard's fifth multi-point game of the 2017-18 WHL season. He now has 13 goals and 28 points in 55 games -- a massive jump from only four points last season. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)