Welcome to Canucks Army’s 2019 Draft Countdown. Over the next four weeks leading up to the draft, we’ll be rounding up scouting reports, quotes, and videos about our Top-100 prospects available. Here are aggregated profiles on 2019 Draft Countdown: Simon Holmstrom, Bobby Brink, Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Poulin, and Philip Tomasino

Simon Holmstrom 

Date of birth: May 24th, 2001

Nation: Sweden

Position: Right wing

Shoots: L

Height: 6’1″ / 185 cm

Weight: 192 lbs / 87 kg

Profile: Holmström’s draft stock fell this year after a disappointing season riddled with injuries. He’s an excellent playmaker with great vision and could be a steal if he falls to the second round. 

Holmström’s offensive numbers are a good news, bad news proposition. The good news is that he was a point per game player over two seasons in SuperElit, Sweden’s junior league, during seasons where he was just 16 and 17 years of age. The bad news is he was limited to 49 games combined over those two seasons, missing roughly half of the league’s scheduled.

During 2018-19 he was 10th on his team in scoring and fifth in points per game among HV71’s regulars, three of which were significantly older than him. Everything aside from his sample size points to him being a productive player at higher levels, but his small sample size due to his injuries may be enough to give teams pause.

He was fourth on Sweden in scoring at the Under-18 Worlds and helped them capture a gold medal. – Ryan Pike, Flames Nation 

A year ago, Holmström was seen as a high first-rounder after a great season in the SuperElit as a 16-year-old. But this season has been very difficult for him because he’s had multiple injuries and hasn’t been able to play much because of them. He had a hip surgery in the summer leading up to his draft season, broke his thumb in the first half of the season, and then suffered a concussion in the second half. It’s very unfortunate he’s missed so much time due to injuries during these crucial development years. Holmström is an excellent playmaker from the wing. He has very good vision, and he can make crisp passes. He also has a great shot which makes him a dual-threat. He’s a very talented skater who combines speed with agility. Holmström could be a faller in the NHL Entry Draft because of the injury concerns. But if he’s still available in the second round, his upside is definitely worth a selection there. – Jokke Nevalainen, Dobber Prospects

Bobby Brink

Date of birth: July 8th, 2001

Nation: United States

Position: Right wing

Shoots: R

Height: 5’8″ / 173 cm

Weight: 165 lbs / 75 kg

Profile: Brink makes up for his small size and mediocre skating with incredible offensive sense and quick decision-making. He also has arguably the best name in the draft. 

One of the youngest players in the entire draft class – he doesn’t turn 18 until July – Brink is a speedy, offensively-minded right handed winger. He’s been playing alongside Flames 2018 fourth round selection Martin Pospisil for much of the past year and so the Flames have likely seen a ton of him this season.

A product of the machine that is Minnesota high school hockey, Brink has been a steady points producer at every level he’s been at and managed to do so without being particularly big – he’s listed as 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds. He was a point-per-game player as a 15-year-old and scored at well over that rate as a 16-year-old. – Ryan Pike, Flames Nation

After feasting on the USHL competition this season, Brink was the lone non-NTDP addition to the American squad that the World U18 Championships. He’s looked dangerous alongside Matt Boldy and Alex Turcotte at even strength. Brink finds soft spaces and makes the opposition pay in a hurry. Can read the play quicker than most and boasts the vision and release to act as a dual threat. An elite brain. On the flip side, he owns an ugly stride that lacks quickness or impressive top-end speed. He’ll need to place immense focus on that skill or risks falling behind when he levels up to the professional ranks. He’s off to the University of Denver in the fall. – Cam Robinson, Dobber Prospects 

Jakob Pelletier 

Date of birth: March 7th, 2001

Nation: Canada

Position: Left wing

Shoots: L

Height: 5’9″ / 175 cm

Weight: 161 lbs / 73 kg

Profile: Another undersized winger, Pelletier is a multidimensional offensive talent. He racked up 39 goals in the QMJHL this year despite the fact his playmaking and passing is his best attribute. 

At 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Pelletier is small by hockey standards, but in a draft with Cole Caufield, no one should care about that. Pelletier is an excellent skater (particularly when it comes to his first step and acceleration), and his hockey IQ allows him to read his options and make the best play for the situation, setting up his teammates for quality opportunities. His defensive positioning could use work, but he’s got time. – Hannah Stuart, The Score 

Even though he racked up 39 goals this year, he is projected as more of a playmaker. He’s sharp on the ice, has incredible vision, and understands how making sure plays will develop into scoring chances. He anticipates plays while always keeping an eye out for his teammates, able to thread passes in high traffic and pinpoint his passes to open up lanes.

Pelletier has good hands that allow him to control the puck, dictating the pace around him with the speed to avoid defenders. His own aggressive forechecking allows him to put pressure on defencemen and create turnovers.

His soft hands help him finish off plays in tight areas and around the net. He’s great at driving the net and creating havoc. A great shot is also in his bag of tricks, and that’s something he could stand to use more often. – Marc-Antoine Lewis, Habs Eyes on the Prize

Samuel Poulin

Date of birth: February 25th, 2001

Nation: Canada

Position: Left wing

Shoots: L

Height: 6’2″ / 188 cm

Weight: 207 lbs / 94 kg

Profile: Poulin is a unique player in this draft because he’s a highly-skilled power forward with a knack for scoring goals. He’s especially deadly around the net with his good hands in tight space and quick shot. 

Poulin’s size and skill make him an intriguing power forward option, something that is harder and harder to find in the NHL today. He needs to continue to work on his skating though. If he can solve this issue, he could be an effective top-six winger at the NHL level. He will need some time though. In terms of style, Poulin’s game is reminiscent of Marian Hossa, but this is not a comparison of skill or ability, just style. – Ben Kerr, Last Word on Hockey 

Poulin has a high compete level matched only by his work ethic. Like all snipers, he is dangerous when he is confident and at 100% physically. He is constantly moving and heading for the net. He has the ability to find free spaces and to take advantage of the chances he gets around the net. What I really like about Poulin is how deadly he is around the net. Whether he is finding pucks in front or making moves around the cage, the 2019 draft prospect has a knack for creation. Affording him too much room to shoot is equally as dangerous as playing him tight. His goal scoring ability for a teenager is near elite. It will be interesting to follow him until the end of the season. – Benoit Belanger, McKeen’s 

Philip Tomasino

Date of birth: July 28th, 2001

Nation: Canada

Position: Centre

Shoots: R

Height: 6’0″ / 183 cm

Weight: 181 lbs / 82 kg

Profile: Tomasino profiles as that high-energy, difficult-to-play-against centre that everyone loves to have on their team. He has a good skill set but his tenacity is his best attribute as a player. 

Tomasino is a speedy, high-energy player. His engine never quits and he seems to play harder when the opposition has possession. Tomasino is a quick player and keeps his feet moving, even when he has the puck. He can play a physical game, throwing hits to create turnovers or shoulder his way past a defender. His puck possession skills are impressive as the combination of his skills and tenacity lend to solid possession ability. He has a quick release and accurate shot but is equally capable of shooting or creating scoring chances for teammates. Tomasino plays a game that I can see being successful at the NHL level after he has fully developed in time. His ability to force turnovers and steal the puck and ability to produce offence reminds me of Mark Stone. – Peter Harling, Dobber Prospects