Projects as power forward who uses his body along the wall, in front and down low. Displays a very strong stride and first couple steps. Will slide to the front and be a moving screen as his team sets for a shot, and spread and anchor looking for the deflection. After winning pucks in the greasy areas, gets loose and he lets loose a heavy accurate shot. More than willing to fight for lost pucks and plays hard away from the puck. – Bill Placzek, NHL Draft Site

“I bring power up the ice, and that creates a lot of space for my linemates,” Keppen says. “I’m always hard on the forecheck, always making hits to try to create a battle out there. I’m good at retrieving pucks. That’s my offensive game. I’m always trying to play a 200-foot game, which means I try to backcheck very hard. I try to block shots and be a good half-wall player.” – Aaron Vickers, EP Rinkside 

One of the best pure goal scorers available in the draft, Fagemo has been a national team mainstay for Sweden at all the important teenager tournaments, including last month’s WJC. Although he was quiet at that event, his consistency and production for Frolunda in one of the tougher elite leagues are too impressive to ignore. – Steve Kournianos, The Draft Analyst

With a successful start to the SHL season and a potential spot on the Swedish WJC roster, no one would blame Samuel Fagemo if he had his eyes set on next year’s entry draft in Vancouver. But even though he’s very pleased with being able to prove a lot of people wrong, he feels it’s a good thing to stay within the moment.

“I see this as my revenge after not being chosen in the draft last summer, but at the same time, it’s kind of early to think about next year’s draft now. I think I’m playing good hockey and my goal is to keep doing that throughout the year. If I’m able to do that, good things will happen.”

More good things, that is. – Uffe Bodin, EP Rinkside 

Center Arvid Costmar led Sweden in scoring and had the best performance in the tournament (u-18 5 Nations) among the Swedish forwards. He was the driving force behind Sweden’s offense all tournament. He played the game at a solid pace and has a knack for getting himself open is prime scoring spots. When he gets passes in a scoring position he wastes no time. When he shoots he gets really low and hammers a low one-time snap shot. He posted seven points including four goals. – Draft Prospects Hockey 

“I think the mindset for him needs to be less is more,” Williams said. “He sometimes gets himself into trouble trying to overcompensate and do too much out there. His biggest asset is his skating strength, he’s got a good shot and he makes good first passes. Good plays, defends hard, blocks pucks. If he keeps to that and thinks about just moving the pucks north and joining the rush. … it’s what we expected.”

There were high hopes for Fairbrother last season, but a separated shoulder — an injury sustained while trying to grab Portland’s Reece Newkirk during a fight on Dec. 6 — warranted surgery and sidelined him for about three months. – Joshua Horton, Silvertips Blog 

Ranked as 85^th best North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting Service mid-term rankings, Fairbrother improved his two-way play as the season went along.

Ending the regular season with ten goals and twenty-six assists in sixty-four games for the Silvertips, the left handed rear guard was ranked fourth in goals among first time draft eligible WHL defencemen and having seventeen of his twenty-six assists being of the primary variety. – Ryan Biech, EP Rinkside 

Newkirk is relied upon in all situations: 5-on-5, second power play unit, and the penalty kill. When the team is down by a goal, Johnston will often elevate Newkirk back to the top line.

When a team drafts him this summer, Newkirk feels they will get a player who “is all about work ethic; my work ethic is everything. I’m a hard worker every shift.” – Joshua Critzer, Dub Network