Alexander Holtz of Djurgården during the CHL game between Skellefteå and Djurgården on November 12, 2019 in Skellefteå
Photo: Ola Westerberg / BILDBYRÅN
The Pipeline Show

THE PIPELINE SHOW: Talking the ‘Dub, U17s, Danny Weight, & Joel Sexsmith

This week on The Pipeline Show, listeners get a recap of the World U17 Hockey Challenge, get the inside scouting reports on five probable 1st round picks from Europe and speak with a pair of players eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft.

In the Dub: Glen Erickson

Glen Erickson is based in Medicine Hat so I was able to kill two birds with one stone by talking to him about the WHL and also the World U17 Challenge that was held there and in Swift Current.

We began with the U17s, which the Russians won for the second consecutive year. The United States took home the silver but saw strong performances from a number of players that Glen named and discussed in detail. I also asked Glen if he thought Canada was at a disadvantage by entering three teams and thus lowering their chances at a gold medal.

Erickson also spoke about performances in the U17 by a number of different WHL players including Cole Sillinger, Dylan Guenther, Carson Lambos and Logan Stankoven.

From there we shifted our focus on to the Western Hockey League and four teams who could be described as having surprised many pundits so far this year. We also talked about league attendance and if there is a concern there.

Hockey Prospect Draft Preview: Johan Lindemalm Karlsson

Every few weeks, all season long, someone from HockeyProspect.com appears on The Pipeline Show to share scouting thoughts on a handful of players eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft. This time around we head to Sweden and also get a report on a top German.

Scout Johan Lindemalm Karlsson is my guest to tell us about four highly-touted Swedish skaters, all of whom rank inside the first round for the scouting service. We begin with Lucas Raymond, the electrifying talent playing for Frölunda HC. Next, it’s sniper Alexander Holtz of Djurgårdens IF. How are these top Swedes different as players?

[Read more: The EliteProspects Rinkside 2020 NHL Entry Draft Swedish Watch List]

Recent guest Noel Gunler is talked about next and then defenceman William Wallinder is in the spotlight.

Lastly, I wanted to know more about 17-year-old German Tim Stutzle who is among the leading scorers for Adler Mannheim in the DEL.

[Read more: The EliteProspects Rinkside 2020 NHL Entry Draft Miscellaneous Watch List]

2020 Draft Spotlight: Danny Weight

Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
ST. PAUL, MN – SEPTEMBER 19: Team Leopold forward Danny Weight (22) skates with the puck during the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game between Team Leopold and Team Langenbrunner on September 19, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. Team Leopold defeated Team Langenbrunner 6-4.

What a difference a change of scenery can make for a player. Last year, forward Danny Weight was one of two or three players on the entire USNTDP that went unselected during the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Six months later he is one of the leading scorers in the BCHL and definitely on the radar for NHL scouts.

[Read more: The EliteProspects Rinkside 2020 NHL Entry Draft USHL Watch List]

I spoke at length with Weight about joining the Penticton Vees, how much he knew about the team or the BCHL before doing so and what the quick start has done for his mindset.

Of course, the disappointment with not being drafted last year came up and to his credit, Weight didn’t shy away from discussing it.

Also, being based in Edmonton, you know I had to ask a question or two about his father who is still a fan favourite and considered one of the best Oilers of the last 30 years.

2020 Draft Spotlight: Joel Sexsmith

Defenceman Joel Sexsmith is entering his NHL Draft season but wasn’t ranked by NHL Central Scouting. That’s OK because considering the last 18 months, it’s amazing he’s even playing at all.

The Edmonton product was taken 9th overall in the 2017 Bantam Draft by Swift Current. His rights were moved to the Vancouver Giants before he’d eve played a game for the Broncos and last season was almost a write off for health reasons. Sexsmith went into detail about the blood clot that limited him to just a handful of WHL games for the Giants. He also talked about the road back to playing after being told the chances of him doing so were very slim.

But returns he has, now with the Red Deer Rebels, where he’s part of a young core of players that Brent Sutter believes can mature together to become contenders in the next couple of years.

Sexsmith and I chatted about it all, on and off the ice, and I think you will find him a very easy player to cheer for.

You may also be interested in:
Scouting Report: U18 5 Nations Wrap-Up, Part 1: USA, Czechia, & Switzerland
Scouting Report: U18 5 Nations Wrap-Up, Part 1: USA, Czechia, & Switzerland
This article is about:
The Pipeline Show USNTDP Juniors U.S. National U18 Team USA U18 Red Deer Rebels Swift Current Broncos Vancouver Giants Penticton Vees Medicine Hat Tigers Canada Western U17 Canada Québec U17 Canada Pacific U17 Canada Ontario U17 Canada Atlantic U17 Canada Black U17 Canada Red U17 Canada White U17 Team Black (Canada U17) Team Red (Canada U17) Frölunda HC Frölunda HC J20 Djurgårdens IF Djurgårdens IF J20 Adler Mannheim NHL U17-A SuperElit SHL DEL AHL Joel Sexsmith Brent Sutter Brent Sutter [staff] Danny Weight William Wallinder Tim Stützle Alexander Holtz Lucas Raymond Noel Gunler Carson Lambos Cole Sillinger Dylan Guenther Logan Stankoven
Scoring Leaders