With the NHL season a month away and a loaded class of young rookie talent, there’s bound to be plenty of new names to look out for. Below we’ll be exploring some of the draft’s underrated talents who could be poised for a breakout, including an exclusive interview from one of the newest Arizona Coyotes, Jonathan Castagna, who kicks off the list of 2023 sleepers:
1. Jonathan Castagna
Straight out of St. Andrews College, the six-foot-two, one-hundred and ninety-five-pound centre from Toronto, has been flying under the radar and fans should keep an eye on him. Castagna was selected in the third round, 70th overall by the Arizona Coyotes. Playing fifty games last year and having twenty-nine goals to go along with forty-three assists in the CAHS. After two years of playing in the Central Amature Senior Hockey League, he averaged just over a point a game. Although not playing for the Coyotes next year, Castagna will take time to develop in the NCAA playing for a hockey powerhouse at Cornell University, alongside some fellow high school teammates.
The most powerful attribute to his game is his net-front presence and his top-tier skating. He took many general managers by surprise at the combine finishing top-10 in a multitude of fitness categories, most notably finishing second in agility and balance for both his left and his right times, tied for first in total FMS score (Functional Movement Screen), fifth in squat jump, and tenth in mean power output.
I was able to secure an interview with Jonathan to talk about his mindset after being drafted. One of the first questions asked was how he felt going up against tougher competition in the pros. He went on to say, “Obviously it’s definitely a big change, and the guys are a lot better but it doesn’t affect my confidence to do what I do on and off the ice.”. In Coyotes training camp, Costagna notched a goal and an assist in their scrimmage, proving that he can keep up with the tougher competition. He spoke more about his excitement as well, to start off the 23-24 season at Cornell. Saying “We got a good group of guys that I’m excited to step on the ice with, some who I’ve already played with before and I think we can do some great things out there.”. After talking about how surreal the feeling of being drafted was, the next question was what he thought his biggest strengths in his game were. He said, “I think my biggest strengths are my overall hockey IQ, my explosive presence, and my ability to generate offence.” He also mentioned his leadership off the ice, and his defensive maturity as two of his core strengths. When asked about what sets him apart from the rest of the competition, he said: “I believe my work ethic, discipline and how I carry myself off the ice sets me apart from other players, I am really devoted to the game and I make sure to try as hard as I possibly can, whether it is on or off the ice. Not only be a better hockey player, but a better teammate, leader and person.”
Castagna is definitely a player to watch out for in the near future and fans should be extremely excited to see what he can do on the ice for years to come.
2. Luke Mittelstadt
Luke Mittelstadt, a five-foot-eleven, one-hundred-and-eighty-five-pound defenseman from the University of Minnesota. Taken in the seventh round 197th overall by the Montreal Canadians, Mittelstadt had an impressive 22-23 campaign with the Golden Gophers. Becoming the first Gopher defenseman to reach the twenty-point mark as a freshman since Erik Johnson did it in the 06-07 season. Mittelstadt finished the season with a plus-minus rating of +22, ranking second amongst defensemen on his team as a freshman. Extremely impressive considering the Gopher’s defensive core had more points than any other team in the Frozen Four last season. Middelstadt was a well-deserved selection to the NCAA Frozen Four all-tournament team. As well as earning a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman team. His scouting report talks about some of the more powerful attributes of his game, the main one being his strength at the top of the offensive zone. His brother Casey, who went eighth overall to the Sabers back in 2017, just had an impressive fifty-nine points playing in all 82 games last season. Although he is a raw prospect with an unpolished game so far, Middelstadt has 3 more years of eligibility to develop his game in the NCAA for a hockey powerhouse in Minnesota. Being a low-risk high-reward pick with extreme upside potential, Habs fans have their eyes on him hoping they have found a diamond in the rough. Being an extremely durable player, only missing 2 games last season, it is also worth mentioning he finished 5th amongst all freshmen defensemen in the Big 10 conference for total points.
3. Jacob Fowler
The third player, is also a new Montreal Canadian, Jacob Fowler. The goalie from Melbourne, Florida was taken one pick before Castagna in the third round at 69th. The six foot two, two-hundred and twenty-five pound goalie put up a none other than stellar season in the USHL last year. Backing the Youngstown Phantoms to their first ever USHL championship while posting a 2.28 GAA (goals against average), and a .921 save percentage over 40 games. Fowler had an outstanding performance in the 22-23 playoffs, through 9 games the Florida native notched a 1.36 GAA and a .952 save percentage, winning the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year award for the USHL.
Fowler will be playing at Boston College next season, giving him 4 years of eligibility to develop against extremely tough competition. A scouting report from Dobber prospects stated, “What Fowler lacks in mobility and fluidity, he makes up for in anticipation, tracking, and comfortable puck handling and passing, Boston College will be a good environment to optimize his development.”. Fowler was also named the most outstanding player of the Clark Cup. Ranked 5th amongst all North American goalies, Fowler was an excellent pick at sixty-nine that fans must keep an eye on.
Although a lot of scouting reports say he has some work to do with his glove hand, the scouting report made by Pavel Malyugin at Hockey Royalty goes on to add that “His athletic positioning in the net allows him to move from side to side fluidly despite his feet lacking speed. When he moves from one side of the net to the other, he almost looks like a robot with his mechanical movement.”. Its also worth mentioning that at the combine Fowler tested ninth, in right-hand grip strength. It’s safe to say the Habs might have gotten a steal in this year’s draft, based on what we’ve seen so far.
4. Jayden Perron
Taken 94th overall in the third round, by the Carolina Hurricanes is Jayden Perron. From the Chicago Steel of the USHL, Perron is a five-foot-nine one hundred and sixty-five pound right winger who is committed to play at the University of North Dakota. What he lacks in size, he instantly makes up for with his quickness and puck-handling ability. Notching twenty-four goals and forty-eight assists last season, Perron ranked sixth amongst the entire USHL in total points with seventy-two. Generating a lot of buzz, Perron has incredible offensive potential and could’ve been a first-round pick if not for his size. A scouting report on “The Hockey News” stated “He’s a crafty player. More quick than fast. He has really deceptive skating. It doesn’t look like he’s going very fast, but then he beats guys, cuts back and uses his edge work. Good vision. He has really asserted himself as a go-to guy on that team, which is tough”. Having four years of eligibility to develop at the NCAA Division One level, Perron has plenty of time to reach his true potential.
In the USHL last season, Perron had two-point streaks extending over eight games. Known for his incredible creative playmaking ability, and his ability to generate scoring chances, Perron’s only downside seems to be his size. Perron finished with the second-most assists in all of the USHL last season, and third-most on the powerplay proving to be a threat whenever the puck touches his stick. Another low-risk high-reward draft selection, the Hurricanes really have found themselves a special talent, if he reaches his offensive ceiling.
5. Riley Heidt
The last player on my list is Riley Hiedt. Heidt, the five-foot-ten, one hundred and seventy-eight-pound centre was taken in the second round at 64th overall by the Minnesota Wild in this year’s draft. Straight out of the WHL, playing for the Prince George Cougars, Hiedt notched twenty-five goals and seventy-two assists over sixty-eight games, tying for fourth place in the WHL for total points with ninety-seven. Heidt also happened to set a Prince George franchise record in assists last season. Projected to be a top-six forward, Jason Bukala made a scouting report stating, “His skill is his most attractive element. Leans playmaker more than a shooter and is hard to defend. He has the ability to slip pucks around, and through opponents. His skating is mostly sound, but he does pick his spots, at times, to play fast. Has a top-six NHL upside based on his skill, but his off-the-puck detail and secondary battle will have to evolve.”.
Heidt, known for his extremely intelligent playmaking, as well as his speed on the ice, has the potential to be an offensive juggernaut. His main weakness in his game is his defensive ability, where he does not rank well amongst other first-round prospects which is the main reason he slid in the draft. In saying that, Heidt has extreme upside potential, and Wild fans should be excited to see what he can bring to the table.
(Photo via Paul Mosey / St. Andrew’s College)