• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
It's D-Day for the NHL as far as trades go, and more 2018 draft picks are sure to be part of the equation. Four picks were dealt on Sunday, and the New York Rangers moved up to nine total picks -- one shy of league leader Detroit. With more trades likely for the Blueshirts, it looks like this rebuilding team could enter the draft with the most trips to the buffet table, so to speak.
There were just enough games involving draft prospects on Sunday to put together a full 10-player top-performances list. Take a look at all 10 below:
DOMINIK BOKK -- Germany's Bokk continues to make his mark in Sweden's Under-20 league. On Sunday, Bokk scored a goal and had two assists in Vaxjo's 3-2 win over Karlstad -- his first three-point game since Nov. 15. He opened the scoring at 14:24 of the first period, but it was his late-game heroics that helped steal the show. With 1:44 left to play, Bokk assisted on a tying goal to make it 2-2. Soon after, with only 1:05 remaining, he set up the game-winner. Bokk is currently on a five-game scoring streak and has done a great job in raising his draft stock this season. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
YANNICK BRUNNER -- The diminutive Swiss defenseman scored two goals on Sunday in the Kloten Under-20 team's 5-3 win over Bern. Brunner's first goal, the eventual game-winner, came on a power play at 11:11 of the second period for a 4-1 lead. He later scored on a 5-on-3 power play at 16:07 of the second to make it 5-1. Brunner, who has played against men this season in the Swiss League, now has points in three of his last four U20 games. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
THOMAS CASEY -- Casey had a goal and an assist for No. 2 star honors in Charlottetown's 5-3 win over Saint John. It was a rare offensive outburst for a player who has only 10 points in 51 games this season. Casey got his assist on a goal at 8:01 of the second period for a 2-1 lead. He later scored the game-winner, snapping a 3-3 tie at 10:05 of the third period. This was the first multi-point game of Casey's QMJHL career, and it snapped a seven-game scoring drought.
KODY CLARK -- Come draft day, a lot of NHL fans -- especially those in Toronto -- will want to know where Wendel Clark's son is going. Kody has had a strong season, and might get taken in the first three rounds. He was very sharp on Sunday, scoring two goals on five shots in Ottawa's 5-2 win over Kitchener to earn No. 1 star honors. Clark scored the eventual game-winner on a power play at 16:12 of the second period for a 3-2 lead. He added an empty-net goal at 18:59 of the third to make it 4-2. Clark now has 18 goals and 36 points in 47 OHL games. Sunday's performance broke a five-game scoring slump and was his first multi-point game since Jan. 12. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)
KAI EDMONDS -- Barrie's backup goaltender was brilliant on Sunday, making a career-high 48 saves in a 4-0 shutout at Owen Sound. The game's No. 1 star stopped 10 shots in the first period, an incredible 22 in the second, and 16 in the third. Not bad for a player who was making his first OHL start in over two weeks. Edmonds' first win since Feb. 2 lifted him to 7-4-0 on the season (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ZACHARY EMOND -- Rouyn-Noranda edged Quebec 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, thanks to backup goalie Emond's 33-save performance. Emond, the No. 2 star, stopped all seven Remparts shots in the first period, all 15 in the second, and 11 of 12 in the third before losing the game at 0:42 of OT. Prior to giving up a late third-period goal, he had pitched a shutout for 55:07. Emond has won his last two QMJHL starts for the Huskies. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
LUKE HENMAN -- The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada center had a goal and an assist for No. 3 star honors in his team's 4-1 win over Cape Breton on Sunday. Henman scored at 4:07 of the second period for a 3-1 lead and assisted on the power-play goal that closed the scoring just under eight minutes later at 11:46. The Nova Scotia native now has seven goals and 36 assists in 57 QMJHL games. This was his ninth multi-point game of 2017-18, and he has posted points in five of his last seven outings.
OLIVIER RODRIGUE -- Rodrigue had been struggling of late, but the Drummondville netminder can't be held down for long. On Sunday, he returned to form with 24 saves in the Voltigeurs' 7-1 win at Halifax. He was particularly sharp in the first period, stopping 13 of 14 shots. After allowing his only goal, he played 42:28 of shutout hockey down the stretch. In the third, he faced only one shot as his team coasted to a rout. Having snapped a four-game losing streak, Rodrigue is still tied for third in the QMJHL with 27 wins -- just two behind the league leader. (Note: 11th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
PAVEL ROTENBERG -- This might be the only draft year in NHL history where a Russian oligarch's son has the potential to be selected. Rotenberg, who certainly doesn't need NHL money and can only be in this for the love of the game, plays for St. Petersburg SPB in Russia's MHL junior league. He did not record any points at the recent Five Nations tournament, but on Sunday, he had a goal and assist in a 10-1 demolition of Beijing. He scored the eventual game-winner for a 2-0 lead at 16:44 of the first period and assisted on the day's final goal at 7:13 of the third. The two points snapped a 10-game scoring drought, giving the 5-foot-11 right wing five goals and seven assists on the season. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
OLIVER WAHLSTROM -- One of the best snipers in the 2018 draft pool, Wahlstrom is very likely to go in the top 10. He made yet another statement on Sunday, scoring two goals and adding an assist as the No. 1 star of the U.S. NTDP Under-18 team's 4-1 win over Youngstown. The Harvard recruit started with the lone assist on the game's first goal at 4:34 of the first period. In the second, he fired home the eventual game-winner for a 2-0 lead at 6:51. His third-period contribution was a goal at 4:11 to make it 4-0. Wahlstrom now has 17 goals in 17 games against USHL opponents this season. He also has 35 goals in 45 games overall, giving him the highest U.S. Under-18 team total over the past two years. (Note: Eighth appearance on this list in 2017-18)