NHL Draft: Zhilkin among Central Scouting's players to watch

Danny Zhilkin, a center with Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League, is one of three players upgraded to an A rating on NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list.

The revised players to watch list updates the preliminary list released in October. Players with an A rating are considered candidates to be selected in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft on July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal.
"Some players who are true first-year draft eligible players or did not have the opportunity to play in 2020-21 have been able to establish their game and others have displayed continued improvements and developments," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "This update provides the opportunity to highlight some players whose game is trending in the right direction."
Zhilkin is joined by defensemen Pavel Mintyukov of Saginaw (OHL) and Maveric Lamoureux of Drummondville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as players upgraded to an A rating.
PDF: [Full 2022 NHL Draft Players to Watch list]
Zhilkin (6-foot, 183 pounds) has scored 15 points (six goals, nine assists) and four power-play goals in 16 games this season. He had two assists in seven games for first-place Canada at the IIHF 2021 World Under-18 Championship.
"It's very evident just by watching him that he's ahead of the curve at this point from a lot of prospects; he really plays a mature game," Joey Tenute of NHL Central Scouting said. "He's a top line player that plays in all situations for Guelph, so he's a big part of his team and he's a very strong skater.
"He had a good U-18 Worlds and showed his ability to play up and down the lineup while filling multiple roles in that tournament."
Mintyukov (6-1, 192) has scored five points (one goal, four assists) and taken 29 shots in 12 games with Saginaw.
"I think [Mintykov's] a very polished player," Tenute said. "Coming over from Russia, and playing in a new league with new teammates, you don't always know how quick a player is going to adapt but he's a guy who's come in and has had an immediate impact. He's a top pairing defenseman who plays in every situation, crunches minutes, and excels on the power play."

Lamoureux (6-7, 196), a right-hand shot, has five assists in 17 games for Drummondville.
"He plays a physical brand of hockey," Jean-Francois Damphousse of Central Scouting said. "There was a buzz around him at Canada's Under-18 camp in Calgary over the summer. He's had a solid start to the season, showing good progress with his all-around game, puck management and decisions with the puck on his stick. He's 6-foot-7 and skates very well for his size. He's more than just a tall defensive type and is showing interesting potential on the offensive side of the game."
Here are four 2022 NHL Draft-eligible players trending in the direction of an A rating, according to NHL Central Scouting (listed alphabetically):
Jorian Donovan (6-1, 182), D, Hamilton (OHL)
Donovan, a B-rated skater, has five points (one goal, four assists) as an OHL rookie in 15 games this season.
"After missing a year of development (since the OHL canceled the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19), he's gaining confidence and is the complete package as a dynamic skater, physical defender and heads up, poised puck-mover." - Dan Marr
Bryce McConnell-Barker (6-1, 187), C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
The B-rated versatile forward has scored 12 points (eight goals, four assists) and taken 31 shots on goal in 16 games as an OHL rookie.
"He's an offensive scoring threat with size and speed. He's a high-end skilled center playing left wing and earning his ice time among a strong core of talented veterans." -- Marr
Rutger McGroarty (6-1, 203), LW, USA U-18 (USHL)
The B-rated left-hand shot, who committed to the University of Michigan in 2022-23, has scored 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 12 games for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team.
"After a slow start, he's now consistently playing a strong power-forward game and making things happen offensively." -- Marr
Owen Pickering (6-3, 179), D, Swift Current (WHL)
Pickering, who is up to a B rating after being given a C rating in October, leads Swift Current defensemen with three goals, all on the power play, and has six points and 28 shots on goal in 16 games in the Western Hockey League.
"He has upside potential going for him with his size, skill and hockey sense, but it's the subtle intangibles to his game that have him trending higher." -- Marr
Photos:Pictureboymedia (Zhilkin); Ghyslain Bergeron, Drummondville