• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Another off-day at the World Under-18 Championship meant very little action involving draft prospects on Friday.
Nevertheless one player managed to get on this top-performances list.
It's hard to believe that the 2018 NHL Entry Draft is only eight weeks away. This has been one of the most anticipated drafts in memory, and that anticipation will only build with Saturday night's draft lottery. Who will win the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes? Buffalo has the greatest chance, but the team with the worst record rarely wins.
Maybe the better question is which lottery-winning team would give Dahlin the best NHL home as far as publicity for the league. The answer is pretty clear: either the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, or Montreal Canadiens. At some level, you have to believe the league itself is rooting for those teams to win the lottery and give their large fan bases reason to cheer.
At the other end of the spectrum is Friday's top performer -- a player who would probably be happy to be drafted in any round. His sense of hopefulness is one of the things that make draft day so great.
SAM RENLUND -- Renlund, a Colorado College recruit, erupted for a goal and three assists in the Janesville Jets' NAHL Midwest Division finals-opening victory at Fairbanks. Three of his points came on power plays, including a goal at 16:48 of the first period that cut Fairbanks' lead to 2-1. He followed that with two primary power-play assists in the second period -- on a goals at 2:50 for a 3-2 lead and at 7:53 to make it 4-2. In the third, Renlund assisted on his team's final goal at 0:54 of the third, making it 6-2. He now leads the NAHL in playoff scoring with four goals and eight points in four games. Needless to say, he is really helping his draft hopes in the postseason. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)