This week’s Prospect Portfolio is led by Bowen Byram returning to his junior team and fitting in like he never left. The Avs now also have all of their unsigned goalie prospects in action and continue to see high end scoring numbers from their Canadian junior prospects.
KHL:
Nikolai Kovalenko – RW (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl) round 6, pick 171, 2018
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
Lokomotiv had gotten off to a rough start to the season, seeing coach Craig MacTavish fired less than ten games into the season. This change of management had an immediate positive impact on Kovalenko as he notched his first goal of the season and has seen his roll return to that of a third liner.
Daniil Zhuravlyov – D (Ak Bars Kazan) round 5, pick 146, 2018
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
| 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Zhuravlyov continues to be a pleasant surprise in the Avs prospect pool this season picking up another assist this week. However, he was held out of the Ak Bars’ most recent game for unknown reasons. With such strong play, it’s hard to see a reason to scratch him so the hope is that it’s nothing serious.
Liiga (Finland):
Justus Annunen – G (Oulun Kärpät) round 3, pick 64, 2018
| Games Played | Wins | Losses | OTW | OTL | Save % | GAA |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 94.06 | 1.48 |
Annunen got the nod in goal for just one game this week but he made the most of it continuing his undefeated streak and posting his first shutout in the Liiga. Kärpät sits as the second-best team in the league and Annunen’s solid play is seeing him get closer to tandem time than that of a backup.
QMJHL:
Alex Beaucage – RW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) round 3, pick 78, 2019
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
| 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
After a big opening weekend, Beaucage slowed down a bit recording just one goal and one assist in three games. He still managed to show off his nifty hands as well as some physicality and strength which has gotten him a few penalties but also helped him create plays like the one below.
Extraliga (Czechia):
Petr Kvaca – G (HC Oceláři Třinec) round 4, pick 114, 2017
| Games Played | Wins | Losses | OTW | OTL | Save % | GAA |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 93.14 | 2..11 |
Kvaca got the lion’s share of the workload this week and managed to play well going 2 – 1 with his loss coming in a relief appearance. With a shutout to cap off the week, his numbers are now looking pretty gaudy as he slots in as one of the top five goalies in the league for now.
USHL:
Shamil Shmakov – G (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) round 7, pick 202, 2018
| Games Played | Wins | Losses | OTW | OTL | Save % | GAA |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96.8 | 1 |
The USHL season began this week and Shmakov got off to a great start winning his first game played in North America with an impressive 30 save performance. As a 20-year-old in a junior league that is known for its defense some pretty big numbers are to be expected.
WHL:
Luka Burzan – RW (Brandon Wheat Kings) round 6, pick 171, 2019
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
The 19-year-old Burzan put up a single goal in Brandon’s two games this week. It’s hard to fault him though as he still leads the Wheat Kings in just about every category. It could be a tough year for the team and Burzan is going to have to focus on individual efforts to stand out.
Bowen Byram – D (Vancouver Giants) round 1, pick 4, 2019
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
| 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -2 |
After being cut by the Avs, Byram has gone right back to doing his thing in the WHL for Vancouver. With five assists in his first three games, he looks to be one of the most dominant players in the league with the puck on his stick. No one in that league will be able to stop him.
Trent Miner – G (Vancouver Giants) round 7, pick 202, 2019
| Games Played | Wins | Losses | OTW | OTL | Save % | GAA |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 84.20 | 4.07 |
Miner is the one Avs prospect that seems to be off to a slower start than was hoped. He’s had to battle every time he gets between the pipes and it shows in his numbers. The small sample size means things are sure to improve and he has shown a few flashes of fantastic saves but the consistency needs to come soon.
Sasha Mutala – RW (Tri-City Americans) round 5, pick 140, 2019
| Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM | +/- |
| 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
Mutala has not slowed down one bit with another four points this week. He has quickly found his role as the key piece on the American’s power play both scoring and facilitating being involved in three goals on the man advantage including this beautiful pass:
0 Comments (1 conversation)
Lefseeter
Hey Nate,
Why can’t/doesn’t Bo go to Europe? Too late for the Auston Mathews route?
Nathan Rudolph
AuthorThe fact that he plays in the WHL means he would have issues unless the Giants were willing to release him.
Lefseeter
I’m biased because I lived in Europe and I have hosted many exchange students Byram’s age, but if my child was that talented I’d encourage it. Plays against men, learns another language, old enough for a beer…